Defense Sector News interviews Colonel Erwan Hénault, who recently assumed the position of France's security attaché in Stockholm. Hénault began his career as a group leader in the gendarmerie's riot control forces and has previously led a detachment of military police in Gao, Mali. Colonel Erwan Hénault has been in his position for nearly two months when FSN met him last fall at the French embassy in Stockholm. He explains that his mission is to create more points of contact between the French and Swedish judicial systems, and he does this in the role of Attaché de sécurité intérieure, known in Swedish as security attaché. The rest of the Nordic region also falls under his area of responsibility, and Hénault is the first that France has historically posted in the region.

FSN: Why is France establishing a security attaché for the Nordic region?

EH: My arrival in Sweden is a symbol that our countries have several common interests in security, including police work and maintaining public order. We want to exchange even more knowledge and experiences with each other. The reason for this is not only the Russian threat—we also need to develop our cooperation against organized crime.

FSN: France is engaging more in Northern Europe, then?

EH: Exactly, France is turning more of its attention northward. This newly established attaché position underscores France's strengthened commitment and interest in Northern Europe overall. Last year, an ASI (French abbreviation for security attaché, editor's note) was established for the Baltics, based in Vilnius, Lithuania. We have a lot in common with our northern partners overall, and we believe we have much to learn from each other.

FSN: How has your first period here been?

EH: I have already met representatives from the Ministry of Justice and also your National Police Commissioner, Anders Thornberg. Overall, I want to find as many contacts as possible among the law enforcement agencies and at the Ministry of Justice.

FSN: What are your first impressions overall?

EH: I have received a very good first impression overall. Many in Sweden know France well as they have worked there, and also many speak good French. I am often struck by how many similarities there are between us. But of course, there are also many differences; we are organized completely differently. We have two national police authorities, one of which, the gendarmerie, is military. We (the gendarmerie) are deployed on foreign missions as provost (military police, editor's note) for the French forces. The organization is like this due to our historical heritage. We have had two police forces since the 1600s, and it has worked very well for us.

FSN: What does your new position as security attaché entail?

EH: Even though the official contacts via Europol and Interpol are going very well, we want to deepen the bilateral cooperation with each respective country in the Nordic region. It is about building channels for collaboration and establishing contact persons between our judicial systems at different levels. Naturally, this involves a lot of monitoring of the external environment. In addition, I am also an advisor to the ambassador, specifically on issues that would fall under the jurisdiction of the French Ministry of the Interior if we were in France.

FSN: This is not only your first diplomatic posting, but you are also to establish a new attaché position. That sounds like quite a challenge?

EH: It is true that this is my first diplomatic assignment, but I have been on missions abroad before. In 2018-2019, I was chief provost in Gao, Mali. There, I actually met Swedish military police, who made a very good impression. Previously, I have worked in other parts of Africa and also Afghanistan. But much of the work in my new position involves building relationships and creating networks, and I have good experience in that.