Cablegate: Swedish Parliament Approves Troop Extension in Afghanistan

VZCZCXRO1337
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHSM #0741 3310627
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270627Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4945
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000741

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID AF SW

SUBJECT: SWEDISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES TROOP EXTENSION IN AFGHANISTAN

REF: STOCKHOLM 629

On November 19, the Swedish Parliament approved the annual Defense
Bill to extend Sweden's troop deployment to ISAF through December
2010. The 2010 Defense Bill allows for a permanent presence of 500
troops, with a surge capacity of 855 in times of crisis. Around 450
Swedish troops are presently part of the contingent based in
Mazar-e-Sharif. MFA and Ministry of Defense sources tell us the
troop level will increase to 500 in coming months (reftel). The
legislation also states that Sweden will increase its training
commitments to Afghanistan, and last week, 22 Swedish officers and
16 soldiers were scheduled to deploy to form a new OMLT to support
the 2nd ANA Infantry Battalion in Shibarghan, 100 kilometers west of
Mazar-e-Sharif. The new Swedish team will advise at the battalion
level, which means that Swedish troops will be integrated into units
actively seeking out insurgents. This OMLT will supplement the two
existing Swedish OMLTs operating at corps and brigade levels.

BARZUN

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