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France sells Sweden four warships worth RM20 billion
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Conflict & Security

France sells Sweden four warships worth RM20 billion

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Approved/passed
  • France and Sweden signed a 4.3 billion euro agreement for Sweden to buy four French frigates.
  • The deal comes as Sweden strengthens its defenses after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and amid uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to European security.
  • The ships will carry Aster 30 air-defense interceptor missiles and may also receive long-range naval strike missiles.

French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the signing of a 4.3 billion euro, or RM20.13 billion, agreement for Sweden to buy four French frigates. The ceremony took place aboard the French frigate Amiral Ronarc’h, docked in Stockholm.

Paris and Stockholm are seeking closer cooperation as concern grows over the threat from Russia. Sweden has been reinforcing its defenses since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022. The Nordic country joined NATO two years later.

We are establishing a major strategic partnership that is mutually beneficial, respectful and ambitious.

— Emmanuel MacronMacron described the defense agreement during the signing ceremony.

Macron called the agreement “a major strategic partnership” that would be mutually beneficial, respectful and ambitious. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Europe now needs to take greater responsibility for its own security as NATO members in Europe worry about increasingly uncertain U.S. commitments to the alliance’s defense.

Macron said the four frigates would be equipped with Aster 30 interceptor missiles for air defense. They could also be fitted with naval missiles capable of conducting long-range strikes.

Everyone now knows that in Europe, we need to take greater responsibility for our own security.

— Ulf KristerssonThe Swedish prime minister linked the deal to Europe’s growing defense responsibilities.
About this summary

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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