Sweden signed a $4 billion contract for four Naval Group frigates during a ceremony in Stockholm attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The deal, announced in May, will triple Sweden’s air defense capacity and marks the country’s largest naval procurement in decades.
The frigates, set to become the Swedish navy’s biggest ships, are expected to arrive starting in 2030. Sweden, NATO’s newest member, accelerated its defense buildup after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine forced it to abandon neutrality. The order reflects broader European efforts to reduce reliance on U.S. support amid shifting transatlantic security dynamics.
Macron emphasized the deal’s role in reinforcing European defense sovereignty, stating it strengthens industrial and technological cooperation within the EU and NATO. The agreement follows Sweden’s recent NATO accession and aligns with increased European defense spending amid geopolitical uncertainty.
