The Swedish government plans to send up to 150 soldiers to Mali to support a French military initiative combining special force troops from different countries.
"The government has decided to put a bill to parliament… for Swedish participation" in the joint unit, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The French initiative, named Operation Takuba, aims to get military special forces from several countries accompanying Malian troops into combat.
The large, mainly desert West African nation ended a jihadist occupation of key northern towns in 2013 with French help, but the Islamist extremists remain highly active and have moved farther south.
"Swedish aid should consist of a helicopter-borne rapid reaction force of a maximum 150 men," the ministry stated.
The Swedish government proposal is expected to win majority approval in parliament.
A French anti-insurgency operation in the conflict-wracked Sahel region, Operation Barkhane, is being extended to make way for the European force, Operation Takuba.
France has 4,500 soldiers deployed in five Sahel nations.
Paris hopes to get a larger number of European countries involved to provide logistical support with helicopters and transport planes as well as ground troops.
