Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrived in Ottawa on Tuesday morning and were welcomed at Rideau Hall by a small crowd of onlookers waving Swedish flags.
Chief Justice Richard Wagner and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand were part of the Canadian delegation receiving the royal couple, who are making a three-day state visit that includes stops in the national capital and Montreal.
"Our nations share a close and friendly partnership grounded in common values and mutual respect," the king said in a short speech outside Rideau Hall.
He noted Canada was the first country to ratify Sweden's application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Sweden became the alliance's newest member early last year, breaking its long-standing neutrality in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Sweden has added troops to a Canadian-led brigade on NATO's eastern flank in Latvia.
"As Arctic nations, we share a vital role in addressing our global challenges in the region and keeping it secure," said Carl XVI Gustaf.
Wagner was standing in for Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who is recovering from an illness. He was set to host the royal couple at a state dinner at Rideau Hall on Tuesday evening.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met the king and queen in his office on Tuesday afternoon, where he said the two countries were signing a strategic partnership "that extends from defence, to trade, to the environment and beyond."
A press release from the Prime Minister's Office said the agreement will connect Canadian and Swedish industries and workers in sectors such as clean power, critical minerals, manufacturing, defence, forestry, research and life sciences.
"Our new partnership will help create high-paying careers and stronger supply chains across both economies through research co-operation, better information exchange, skill development, and more," said the release. "It will also strengthen Arctic and Euro-Atlantic collective security — a priority of both countries as NATO allies."
A statement from Carney and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the countries share a close relationship based on common values and interests.
The statement said the partnership was aligned with other agreements between Canada and the European Union.
The king and queen attended a state dinner in the Rideau Hall ballroom on Tuesday evening.
Wagner said in a speech that the countries not only both have "outstanding" hockey players but also have shared values and have worked to strengthen international collaboration and security.
"Sweden and Canada share a vision of a world that is more inclusive and sustainable," Wagner said.
The king also spoke at the event, saying in a speech that Canada and Sweden have a lot in common and are committed to democracy, human rights and free trade.
The king also said that, as Arctic nations, the countries share a "vital role" in addressing complex challenges in the region and keeping it secure and peaceful.
Top Swedish government ministers — including Industry Minister Ebba Busch and Defence Minister Pal Jonson — and representatives from dozens of Swedish companies have joined the royal couple on the trip to Canada.
"I believe that in difficult times you should really choose your friends wisely, and this is the reason Sweden is choosing Canada," Busch said as she joined Carney and the royal couple for the meeting.
She added that Sweden is a maker of submarines and fighter jets — two things Canada plans to buy as it ramps up spending on defence in a bid to meet its NATO target and increase the military's capacity.
Swedish defence firm Saab was a finalist for the contract to replace Canada's fleet of CF-18 fighter jets. That contract ultimately went to U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
The federal government has committed to buying 16 of Lockheed Martin's F-35A jets out of a planned purchase of 88 to replace Canada's aging fleet of CF‑18 Hornets.
The Carney government ordered a review of that contract in response to the tariff war with the United States. It has not said when a decision is expected.
Saab is now considering whether to start assembling its Gripen fighter jets in Canada as demand for the warplanes ramps up.
Saab is in talks with Bombardier and the Canadian government about the prospect of assembling the jets in Canada, which would create thousands of jobs.
The two companies are already partnered on the Global Eye early warning surveillance aircraft, which are manufactured in Canada and sent to Sweden to have their sensor equipment installed. Saab said recently it wants to do more of that work in Canada.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday the government believes it didn't get enough industrial benefits from the Lockheed Martin deal and that more jobs need to be created in Canada.
She also said Saab has assured the government that production in Canada could create roughly 10,000 jobs domestically.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
