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 France |  Sweden |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of France, Stockholm | Embassy of Sweden, Paris |
France–Sweden relations are thecurrent and historical relations between France and Sweden. Both nations are members of theCouncil of Europe,European Union,NATO and theOECD.In August 2022, France fully ratified Sweden'sNATO membership application.[citation needed] France strongly supported Sweden'sNATO membership during the latter's accession process.
One of the first contacts between France and Sweden was in 799 during the firstViking raids of the Frankish northern coast. In March 845 Viking Danish-Swedish KingRagnar brought 120 ships up theSeine river for theSiege of Paris. The Vikings left Paris after a month of battle when Frankish KingCharles the Bald paid them 7,000 lbs of silver and gold.[1] In 911 after multiple Viking invasions, Frankish KingCharles the Simple conceded the town ofSaint-Clair-sur-Epte to the Vikings.[2]
In 1499, France and Sweden signed a Trade Treaty for which Sweden sent France hides, skins, furs, butter, fish oil, herrings, whales, tar, timber for the navy, iron and copper. In exchange, the French sent salt Brouage, wheat, wine, canvas, sheets, silks and spices.[2] Across the 16th century, French mercenaries such as Claude Collart andPontus de La Gardie entered Swedish service. In 1570, France, along withPoland and theHoly Roman Empire, helped conclude the peace between Sweden andDenmark atSzczecin ending theNorthern Seven Years' War in 1570.[3] In 1631, during theThirty Years' War, France and Sweden signed theTreaty of Bärwalde which obliged Sweden to maintain an army of 36,000 troops, and France to fund the Swedish army annually with 400,000Reichsthalers.[2]
In the 1700s, French culture and theFrench language became a big influence on the Swedish monarchy. Swedish kingGustave III received a French education as a child.[2] Several prominent Swedish nobles studied in France. Influenced by theFrench Academy of Sciences, Sweden created theRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences.[4]
In 1805, Sweden entered into theWar of the Third Coalition and fought against France in theFranco-Swedish War in an effort to defeat France underNapoleon Bonaparte. The war lasted until January 1810, when Sweden was defeated by France's then-ally,Russia. After the war, France and Sweden signed theTreaty of Paris (1810). The next year, FrenchMarshalJean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, who served under EmperorNapoleon, was elected as the heir-presumptive to KingCharles XIII of Sweden, who was childless. Bernadotte was elected partly because a large part of the Swedish Army, in view of future complications withRussia, supported electing a soldier and partly because he was popular with the Swedish army because of the kindness he had shown to the Swedish prisoners inLübeck. Bernadotte accepted the offer.
In 1813, Bernadotte successfully led Swedish troops against Napoleon during theWar of the Sixth Coalition which resulted in Napoleon being exiled to the Island ofElba in 1814. In 1818 Bernadotte was crowned King of Sweden and King of Norwayafter defeating Norway in the war of 1814 after demandedDenmark to cedeNorway toSweden after theNapoleonic Wars as compensation for the loss ofFinland in theFinnish War to which the allies agreed, mainly to prevent further conflict. The Danish king ceded Norway shortly after the demands out of fear of Sweden declaring war on Denmark. After the defeat of Norway in 1814 the creation of theunion between Sweden and Norway came through. The union lasted for almost a century until it was peacefully dissolved in 1905.[5] After this he becameCharles XIV John of Sweden, and simultaneously founded theHouse of Bernadotte from which the current Swedish royal family hails from.[6] Sweden declared itself officially neutral in 1818 from future conflicts.
DuringWorld War I andWorld War II, Sweden remained officially neutral during both conflicts, however, unofficially sympathized more with the allies and provided military training to allied soldiers. During World War II, French born Swedish diplomatRaoul Nordling secretly met with German GeneralDietrich von Choltitz to try to limit the bloodshed and damage to the city ofParis during theLiberation of Paris.[7]
Since the end of the world wars, both France and Sweden have joined theEuropean Union. Both nations have had numerous high-level visits and cooperate jointly in several multilateral organizations. There are approximately 15,000 Swedish nationals living in France and 3,500 French nationals living in Sweden.[2]
Military cooperation between France and Sweden is modest as the Swedish focus on exchanges with their Nordic neighbors. Cooperation is primarily operational and has, during theLibyan crisis, enabledSwedish Gripen fighters to take part inNATO air operations.[8] The Swedish armed forces have cooperated with French forces inAfrica on several occasions, particularly during theOperation Artemis,UNIFIL Maritime Task Force, andEUFORChad.[8]
The 2020s has seen increased military cooperation between the two countries. A joint declaration was issued in 2021 regarding defence cooperation in international operations and material provision. In 2023, Sweden agreed to acquire and further develop the FrenchAkeron MP anti-tank guided missile. Further agreements on defence collaboration were signed in 2024 and 2025.[9][10]
In 2015, trade between France and Sweden totaled €10 billion Euros.[11] In 2014, Sweden was France's 16th-largest customer and 18th-largest supplier. At the same time, France was Sweden's 8th-largest customer and 9th-largest supplier.[11]
French foreign direct investment (FDI) in Sweden totalled €3.3 billion in 2013, primarily in the agrifood, equipment and electrical goods sectors. Swedish FDI in France totalled €5.2 billion in 2013, particularly in the automobile industry. Swedish companies such asIKEA andVolvo operate in France.[11][12]
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