Pål Jonson

Pål Henning Jonson (born 30 May 1972) is a Swedish politician of the Moderate Party. He has served as Minister for Defence in the cabinet of Ulf Kristersson since 2022.

Biography
Jonson was born on 30 May 1972, in Älgå on the northwestern shore of Lake Glafsfjord (Göta-Älv basin). His parents, Bo Jonson and Marya Jonson, were farmers.

In 1991, Jonson graduated from the sports gymnasium in Luxel. In 1998 he graduated from Georgetown University, where he studied international politics and received a bachelor's degree. He graduated with a Master of Arts in European politics from the College of Europe in 1999. In 2005, he completed his Ph.D. in military science from King's College London.

He worked as an analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency from 2000 to 2005 and was head of the Moderate Party's office in the European Parliament from 2005 to 2006. He served as political advisor within the Ministry of Defence from 2006 to 2007 and as political advisor on foreign affairs for the Moderate Party in the Riksdag rom 2007 to 2012. He was a visiting researcher at the NATO Defense College (NDC) in 2009. Jonson was Communications Director of the Swedish Security & Defence Industry Association (Sv: Säkerhets- och försvarsföretagen) and Secretary-General of the Swedish Atlantic Council from 2013 to 2016.

Jonson was elected to the municipal council in Arvika Municipality for the Moderate Party in 2006 and was chairman of the Moderate Party in Värmland County from 2010 to 2012. Following the death of Pia Hallström in 2016, Jonson succeeded her as member of the Riksdag for the Värmland County constituency.

Honours

 * EST Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana - 1st Class BAR.svg 🇪🇪 Estonia: Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class (2 May 2023)