Lectures & Seminars
2023
On December 7th, I was invited by the Stimson Center and KINAC to participate in a roundtable discussion in Seoul on Risk Reduction on the Korean peninsula. One of my main arguments was that as DPRK (North Korea) is now in a much better strategic position, with closer cooperation with Russia, DPRK is unlikely to make a first move. Rather ROK (South Korea) and the US need to find ways to change the calculus in Pyongyang and a more long-term and bipartisan agreement in Seoul could be one element in increasing ROK credibility and changing DPRK calculus.
On November 3rd, I was invited to a seminar in Seoul on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) a very topical issue with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence. My presentation focused on operational aspects of LAWS and the difficulties in trying to regulate the military application of such weapon systems.
On September 28th, I was invited by the Eastern Civil Defence Command in Sweden (Östra civilområdet) to make a presentation for staff members responsible for civil defence issues in Stockholm and Gotland. My presentation was on "Grey zone aggression, China and potential implications for Sweden’s Total Defence Concept". Some of my key points were that the concept in itself, a comprehensive approach, is a very good basis, but needs serious and substantial modernisation, not least related to legal issues. I also argued for more resources to be allocated to civil defence, maybe even to re-distribute some from military defence to better address challenges from grey-zone aggression, where civil defence authorities play a vital role.
On September 14th, I was invited to make a presentation at the European Security Seminar-North organized by the US George C Marshall Center in Germany. My presentation was on Arctic Security and Governance and how the Arctic Seven (the Artic Council excluding Russia) could promote the role of the Non Arctic observer nations.
On February 7th, I was invited to participate and make a presentation at the George C Marshall Center and its "Irregular and hybrid warfare seminar". My presentation was on "Perspectives on the Swedish Total Defence Concept". My main takeaways were that the concept in itself is a very good basis to build from, but new challenges make it important to add new elements not least in relation to grey-zone aggression, private sector inclusion and information to and communication with the public. I was also advocating that one very important element to improve total defence and resilience is to exercise both the political, civilian and military elements.
2022
From 19-21 November I was in Seoul, invited by the Ministry of Unification to speak at the “2022 DMZ Global Forum Conference”. My presentation was on how the Governments new “green détente” policy can contribute to improved security in the DMZ. One of my main arguments was that the Government need to develop very concrete measures that are attractive to DPRK and that using the support of the United Nations Command and its member nations should be considered a force multiplier and better utilized.
1st to 4th of November I was in Taipei, participating in the 2022 “Taipei Security Dialogue”. I gave a presentation on “European perspectives on the threat from China” and argued that Europe now views China a competitor and security challenge. The change is evident in the adoption of NATO new Strategic Concept and the EU Strategic Compass. This will make it more difficult for China to use its BRI concept to achieve political influence in Europe.
17th to 21st of October I was invited to South Korea by the National Institute for Unification Education to give a series of lectures for several different groups of experts, government officials and students. My presentations was on the need to focus more attention on risk reduction and crisis management as a consequence of the deteriorating security situation.
12th to 16th of September, I participated in a conference organized by the George C Marshall Center in Garmisch Partenkirchen. I gave a presentation on China´s ambition in the Arctic and took part in several discussion on the governance of the Arctic, where one of my arguments was that temporarily “excluding” Russia from Arctic Council could be a long term strategic mistake and that non Arctic nations need to be given a more meaningful role.
28th to 30th of August, I participated in a conference organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) at Villa Collina outside Milan, Italy. My presentation was on “Critical technology, opportunities, and challenges”. I discussed three important change factors, Chinese ambition, military developments and the growing importance of information. One risks that I identified was the potential challenge between protecting societies from information operations and protecting free speech.
On 3 June , I participated in a webinar organized by KAS Nordic about “Security in the Arctic after The Invasion of Ukraine”.
On 3 May , I participated in a hybrid event on security in the Arctic, The Arctic Symposium, organized by the U.S, Ted Stevens Center. My presentation was on “Non-Arctic nations interests and ambitions in the Arctic”.
On 7 April, I moderated another event on the role and impact of the United Nations Command and Japan.
On 17 January, I moderated a webinar on the “Current and future role of the United Nations Command in South Korea”. This event was organized together with Korea Defence Veterans Association in the United States.
2021
The 18th September 2021, I was invited to give a presentation on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula at the Swedish Korea Veterans Associations annual meeting.
The 29th June 2021, I participated in an event organized by the Universal Peace Foundation where we discussed issues in relation to the DPRK. (2021-06-29)
The 7th May 2021, I was invited by the University of Alaska and the Wilson Centre to participate in the Arctic Security Dialogue, where I addressed China´s objectives and ambition in the Arctic area. (2021-05-07)
2020
The 6th November 2020, I had the great pleasure to moderate a ISDP/KDVA webinar discussing the transfer of operation control in South Korea with three of my former colleagues and friends, Gen(ret) Vincent Brooks from the U.S., LtGen (ret) Chun In Bum from South Korea, MG (ret) Urs Gerber from Switzerland and Mr David Maxwell from the U.S. (2020-11-06)
Presentation on Chinese strategic interests and activities in the Arctic at a seminar at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm (2020-09-17)
Debate on Whether Europe can Deter Russian and Chinese Aggression, Hudson Institute (2020-07-29)
2019
Presentation at the New York World Korea Forum, Columbia University (2019-07-15)
Presentation at the Korea Global Forum for Peace, South Korean Ministry of Unification/Seoul (2019-07-14)
2018
Lecture on the security situation in East Asia, ISDP (2018-03-19)
Lecture at Uppsala University’s Pax et Bellum association (2018-02-27)
Publications
Risk reduction and crisis management on the Korean peninsula. Stimson Center´s 38th North (July 2023)
Asean’s evolving alignment strategy in the South China Sea. ISDP (February 2023)
The war in Ukraine and lessons for the Korean Peninsula. ISDP (June 2022)
From Hybrid tactics to invasion- lessons for China from Ukraine. ISPD (March 2022)
Taiwan and AUKUS – a double edge sword for Taipei. ISDP (November 2021)
Reading the ROK 2022-2026 Midterm Defense Plan. ISDP (October 2021)
AUKUS: Resetting European Thinking on Indo-Pacific? ISDP (October 2021)
Cross-Strait Relations: A Conflict in Slow Motion? ISDP (August 2021)
The UK’s Pivot to the Indo-Pacific. ISDP (May 2021)
London increases its naval presence in the Pacific.. ISDP (March 2021)
The Question of Guam: A Pivotal Island’s Changing Realities. ISDP (December 2020)
Towards a New Conflict Management System on the Korean Peninsula: A Military Perspective, ISDP (July 2020)
The Development of Hypersonic Weapons: Japan's Catch-22. ISDP (May 2020)
In the Wake of Covid-19: Troubled Waters Ahead for the European Union. ISDP (April 2020)
Ambition and Ambiguity: South Korea's Defense Industry Reform. ISDP (July 2019)
The Inter-Korean Military Agreement: Risk of War Diminished? ISDP (November 2018)
A Reset for U.S. -DPKR Relations: The Path Ahead. ISDP (June 2018)
U.S. - ROK Military Exercises: Provocation or Possibility? ISDP (March 2018)
In the Media
Swedish Radio about the US soldier who ran off to North Korea (2023-07-25)
Interview by BBC World Service Newshour about the US soldier who ran off to North Korea (2023-07-19)
Svenska Dagbladet about the possibility that China could mediate in the war in Ukraine (2023-06-02)
Expressen on Chinas modernization and upgrade of its nuclear forces (2023-05-08)
Swedish Radio about the decision by Australia to buy five nuclear powered submarines from the US (2023-03-15)
Swedish Radio about an increasingly heated debate in South Korea about developing domestic nuclear weapons (2023-01-03)
2022
Swedish Radio about the shortage of weapons in the war (2022-06-14)
rtve about Sweden´s decision to apply for NATO membership (2022-05-23)
Swedish Radio about two main scenarios of the war (2022-04-25)
Swedish Radio on the risk of escalation and use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine (2022-04-24)
Swedish Radio on the risk of Russia using weapons of mass destruction in the war in Ukraine (2022-03-28)
Swedish Radio whether Russia´s strategy in the war in Ukraine is going according to plan (2022-03-04)
2021
Swedish Radio about Kim Jung-Un's 10 years at power (2021-12-20)
Swedish Radio about DPRK testing of a hypersonic missile (2021-09-30)
French Mediapart about Taiwan’s Security Environment (2021-06-29)
2020
Interviewed by AlJezeera about the developments in the South China Sea (2020-11-22)
Swedish TV4 Nyheterna about North Korea’s Military Parade (2020-10-12)
Swedish Radio about Rising Tensions Between the U.S. and China (2020-07-28)
2019
Channel News Asia about US-ROK cost sharing talks (2019-12-19)
SVT Nyheter about the Reasoning Behind North Korea’s Latest Missile Tests (2019-10-07)
Interviewed by France 24 on the Trump-Kim Summit and denuclearization (2019-02-28)
Aftonbladet Morgon about the second Trump-Kim summit (2019-02-27)
2018
Feeden i P3 (1:09:42) about the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula (2018-09-27)
Radio Sweden (02:47) about the international security situation in East Asia (2018-07-09)
Radio Sweden’s Studio Ett (03:10) about the suspended military exercises (2018-06-18)
Radio Sweden’s Studio Ett (08:25) about the Trump-Kim meeting (2018-06-12)
Radio Sweden’s P1 Morgon (2:17:41) on the Trump-Kim summit (2018-06-12)
TV4 Nyheterna about Trump canceling the Singapore summit (2018-05-24)
Radio Sweden’s P1 Morgon about the North-South summit in Panmunjom (2018-04-26)
Voice of America about the role of the NNSC (2018-04-09)