SWEDEN ON SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHANISTAN

S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000238 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN ON SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHANISTAN REF: SECSTATE 31102 Classified By: A/DCM Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) On April 7, Polcouns delivered reftel demarche to Swedish MFA Deputy Director of the International Security Policy Department Carl Magnus Eriksson. Eriksson noted that the NSC recently delivered a request for a third OMLT to Sweden's Embassy in Washington, which the government "took very seriously." However, he said, Sweden lacks the resources to send a third OMLT at this time. Sweden's recent commitment to send a second OMLT this November, Eriksson continued, represents a "substantial increase in assistance and a major effort." The 40 troops that will operate at the "kandak" (battalion) level will supplement the eight Swedish soldiers currently working at the corps level. ¶2. (S) Eriksson said the MFA would seriously consider the list of additional requests in reftel, but noted the requested support for the ANA Trust Fund is a "considerable amount." He quoted FM Bildt as saying "we have the blueprint (for Afghanistan),but the challenge is the implementation" in these difficult economic times. ¶3. (S) Comment: We assess that Sweden will look for ways to respond to the articulated needs for Afghanistan. Though resources have already been allocated under this year's budget, we believe Sweden could be persuaded to contribute more for development assistance and possibly the ANA Trust Fund in 2010. Moreover, through sustained dialogue on security needs, especially in RC-North, we believe the Swedes could be convinced to deploy additional forces, possibly an engineering battalion or an OMLT if there is a specific requirement for trainers in or near the Swedish PRT in Mazar-e Sharif. SILVERMAN