Bengt Odhner

Bengt Arne Odhner (10 August 1918 – 20 November 1990) was a Swedish diplomat whose career spanned from 1945 to 1984. After early postings in Tehran and Baghdad, he held key roles at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including serving as secretary to the Foreign Minister and participating in international trade negotiations. He served at embassies in Washington, D.C., and Warsaw, and led the Ministry’s Division for International Assistance Affairs. Notably, he headed trade and industry delegations to East Africa and other special missions to China, North Yemen, Algeria, and Indonesia. Odhner was appointed ambassador to Iraq (1964–1969), with concurrent accreditation to Kuwait, and chaired the Swedish–Iranian Joint Commission in 1967. He later served as ambassador to Pakistan (1969–1973), Iran and Afghanistan (1973–1978), and Tunisia (1983–1984). Following his diplomatic career, he chaired the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul from 1985 to 1987. Throughout his life, Odhner maintained a deep passion for the Orient and Mediterranean cultures, especially Turkey.