President Emmanuel Macron on Monday oversaw the signing of a 4.3-billion-euro ($4.9 billon) deal for Sweden to buy four French frigates as France and Sweden seek to tighten cooperation against a backdrop of growing Russian threats.
Sweden is racing to boost its defences after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with the Nordic country becoming a NATO member two years later.
Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson oversaw the signing of the contract aboard the French frigate Amiral Ronarc'h, moored in Stockholm.
"We are sealing a major strategic partnership, one that is reciprocal, respectful and ambitious," Macron said.
"This demonstrates the strength and importance of this European pillar of defence and how Franco-Swedish cooperation is becoming an essential component of it," the French leader added.
Kristersson struck a similar note.
"Everyone now knows that in Europe we must take greater responsibility for our own security," he said.
"The European pillar of NATO is continuing to strengthen."
The visit marks "a new stage in the deepening of the strategic partnership between France and Sweden and in security and defence cooperation between the two countries," the Elysee said ahead of Macron's trip.
Sweden announced in May it would purchase four defence and intervention frigates from French shipbuilder Naval Group, with the first vessel scheduled for delivery in 2030.
France hopes the deal will boost the appeal of its defence industry across Europe, particularly as an alternative to US competitors, at a time when NATO countries are sharply increasing defence spending.
The order follows France's purchase in December of two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft from Swedish defence giant Saab for more than 1 billion euros.
French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin and her Swedish counterpart Pal Jonson also signed a framework agreement aimed at strengthening defence cooperation.
Alongside several other European countries, Sweden is in talks with France, the European Union's only nuclear-armed state, to strengthen Europe's nuclear deterrent.
The two countries held their first meeting on nuclear cooperation in Paris in April.
"Work is continuing and intensifying," the Elysee said, without providing further details.
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