He will be the new ÖB

Published 7 June 2024 at 16.38

Domestic. The government has today appointed lieutenant general Michael Claesson to succeed Micael Bydén as commander-in-chief when Bydén leaves his appointment at the end of September this year.

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– It is an incredibly complex, but inspiring task. I look forward to, together with all personnel, both employees and volunteers, putting further pressure on delivering defense capabilities going forward, says Michael Claesson, current head of the Defense Staff, in a press release.

Claesson is today head of the Defense Staff, but he has had many different roles over the years. Among other things, he has been the head of Norrbotten's armored battalion at I 19 and of the Field School, and in rounds military advisor at the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sweden's NATO delegation at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

In 2012-2013 he was contingent leader for the 24th Swedish contingent in the ISAF force in Afghanistan, also tactical director of the multinational force Task Force Northern Lights (Regional Command North).

One of the most prominent roles that Michael Claesson has had in the Armed Forces is as Operations Manager between 2020 and 2023.

– The world developments of recent years have affected us all in some way. And it is still a very serious time we live in. The security challenges for us in Sweden and for our allies are many with several ongoing parallel crises and conflicts, says Michael Claesson and continues:

– We must continue our integration in NATO and take responsibility for our joint commitments with our allies and at the same time have the power to develop, grow and strengthen the Armed Forces' combat units and capabilities. These are the most important tasks before us. This is a trust and assignment that I will manage with the utmost respect and determination.

Michael Claesson will take up office as ÖB on October 1 and will be promoted to general in connection with it. Until then, he will continue to lead the Defense Staff and support current ÖB Micael Bydén as his chief of staff.