The signature ceremony took place during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Sweden as the French president pushes for greater European military autonomy to reduce the continent’s reliance on the United States, Le Monde reported.
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The US administration last week pressed its European NATO allies to demonstrate that they are strengthening their defenses as Washington shifts its attention to security challenges closer to home and in the Indo-Pacific region.
“These frigates will serve as platforms that will provide long-range capabilities at sea and protection against ballistic missiles,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said. The war in Ukraine “has shown us the importance of being able to defend against this type of missile.” Under the €4.3 billion ($5 billion) contract, the French shipbuilder Naval Group is expected to deliver the first vessel in 2030.
Macron praised the contract as a “major strategic cooperation” between France and Sweden. “We are thereby strengthening the European defense industrial and technological base,” he said. Macron and Kristersson held talks aboard the vessel before a working dinner scheduled later that day.
The agreements were signed aboard the Amiral Ronarc’h, the first in a new series of French “defense and intervention” frigates. The vessel was launched in 2022 and delivered to the French navy in October 2025. Sweden is buying ships of the same class.
