France and Sweden agreed at the International Space Summit in Paris to develop a roadmap for closer bilateral space cooperation, the Swedish government said on 11 September. The roadmap covers both civil and military dimensions.
It builds on the Franco-Swedish strategic innovation partnership that President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson renewed in 2024. No completion date or budget has been set.
Sweden's defence minister, Pål Jonson, said space "plays a key role in security and defence" and that the two countries "look forward to further deepening our cooperation in this area". France's armed forces minister, Catherine Vautrin, called the partnership "a cornerstone for space security and sovereignty."
France and Sweden were among the founding members of the European Space Agency. They are also the only two EU states that operate space launch facilities: France's Guiana Space Centre and Sweden's Esrange Space Centre in Kiruna. The government said the roadmap is meant to “bring together French and Swedish expertise, infrastructure, and capabilities”.
The announcement follows a January visit to Swedish forces in Norrbotten by France's then chief of defence, General Fabien Mandon. The Swedish Armed Forces said previously that France had expressed interest in joint space research and development.
According to the Swedish Defence Force, greater cooperation between Sweden and France within space was also discussed at a recent bilateral meeting in Paris between senior military representatives from both countries. Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Michael Claesson stated that "France's increased presence in our region is good for our joint security and capability development."