Northern European and Transatlantic Security

The following experts work within NOTS:

Albin Aronsson is deputy project manager for NOTS and a Researcher in FOI’s Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies, focusing on politico-military issues in the United States, the United Kingdom and NATO. He has recently written about NATO and nuclear weapons, US focus on Asia, and NATO military exercises. Albin recently served as an analyst at the Swedish Foreign Ministry’s Department for European Security Policy. He previously worked at the Swedish Defence University, the UK Ministry of Defence and the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. Albin holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Uppsala University, and a master’s degree in War studies from King’s College London.

Robert Dalsjö, Ph.D., is a Research Director in FOI’s Department for Strategy and Policy. He is a generalist in politico-military affairs, currently focusing on Russia’s war in Ukraine and its geopolitical implications, as well as on Sweden’s Nato accession and defence policies. He has previously worked on Russian A2/AD-capabilities, Baltic region security, threshold defence, arms control, naval issues, international operations, and Sweden's role during the Cold War. Robert has also served at the Ministry of Defence and the Swedish NATO delegation. He is an active reserve officer in the Armed Forces.

Johan Engvall, Ph.D., is a Deputy Research Director in FOI’s Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies, focusing on conventional arms control, security in the Baltic Sea region and domestic and foreign policy in the post-Soviet region. He is the author of several books, reports and articles on security, state-building and corruption in Central Asia. Johan has previously worked at Uppsala University, the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and has served as a consultant for the World Bank.

Alina Engström is a Researcher in FOI's Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies, focusing on Germany, Western Europe and European security. She has recently written about Germany’s Zeitenwende and the EU’s security and defence policy. Alina has previously worked at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political science from University of Hamburg and a double master’s degree in European governance from University of Konstanz and Utrecht University School of Governance..

Eva Hagström Frisell is a Deputy Research Director in FOI’s Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies, with European security and international operations as her expert areas. She has in recent years published reports on the security and defence policies of European states as well as military cooperation in Europe. Eva has previously served as an Analyst at the Ministry of Defence, Strategic Advisor to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) and Secretary to the Swedish Defence Commission.

Niklas Granholm is Deputy Director of studies at FOI’s Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies. He has been seconded to at the Swedish Foreign- and Defence Ministries, where he worked with European defence and security related issues. Fields of analysis and studies relate to geostrategic change in the Arctic, Nordic, Transatlantic and European security and defence policy, nuclear strategic development, peace support/crisis management operations and naval and maritime strategy. He is a fellow of the Royal Swedish Society for Naval Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy of War studies and an Associate fellow of the Royal united Services Institute (RUSI) in London.

Jakob Gustafsson is an Analyst in FOI’s Department for Strategy and Policy. His main research areas are Northern European and transatlantic security and defence policy, with a particular focus on Norway and the Baltic states. In recent years, he has published reports on how the countries of the Baltic Sea region reacted to the Donald Trump presidency, and NATO’s capability for reinforcement operations. He has also contributed to the Swedish Armed Forces’ work on strategic foresight and third-party cooperation in defence.

Michael Jonsson, Ph.D., is a Senior Researcher in FOI’s Department for Strategy and Policy with Interstate conflicts and non-military security threats as the main focus. He has recently published reports on Somalia, Nigeria and Syria, and contributed to a study on security and defence policy in Northern Europe. Michael has a doctorate in political science and has previously served as a consultant for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and as an operations analyst at the Swedish Defence Headquarters.

Björn Ottosson is a Researcher in FOI´s Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies, focusing primarily on U.S. foreign, security, and defence policy, and transatlantic relations. He holds a Ph.D. in political science, from Stockholm University, and has previously worked at Stockholm University, Södertörn University, and the Swedish Defence University. 

Krister Pallin is a Deputy Research Director in FOI’s Department for Strategy and Policy, with military doctrine, defence planning and command & control as his foremost areas of expertise. He has among other things long experience as an operations analyst within the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence. Krister has led several major projects within his expert areas and held various management positions within FOI. He is an active reserve officer in the Armed Forces.

Niklas H. Rossbach, Ph.D., is a Deputy Research Director in FOI’s Department for Security Policy and Strategic Studies, focusing on US and European security policy. He has, among other things, written about Brexit and the strategic consequences of the new US energy production policy. Niklas holds a PhD in history from the European University Institute on Anglo-American Relations and also conducted a postdoc on psychological defence at the Changing Character of War Center at Oxford University.

Emma Sjökvist is an Analyst in FOI's Department for Operational Support. Her research focuses on international military missions and European security policy.

Emelie Thorburn is a Junior Analyst in FOI’s Department for Security Politics and Strategic Studies. Her main research area is European security and defence policy, with a focus on Central Europe. Her most recent work is on the Visegrad States and on Nordic defence cooperation. Emelie holds a master's degree in Politics and War from the Swedish Defence University.