Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrived in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, welcomed to 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 to welcome the royal couple, who are making a three-day state visit that includes stops in the national capital and in 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.
A Global Affairs Canada news release said Canada and Sweden will reaffirm their support for Ukraine at an afternoon event at the National Arts Centre.
"As Arctic nations, we share a vital role in addressing our global challenges in the region and keeping it secure," said Carl XVI Gustaf, adding there is momentum in the Canada-Sweden relationship in sectors like defence, science, climate and energy.
The Swedish Royal Court said Canada and Sweden will launch a strategic partnership this week.
"Recent years have brought sweeping changes to our world. We have witnessed unprecedented challenges that test the resilience of our societies," Wagner said as part of his official welcome remarks.
He was standing in for Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who is recovering from illness. A state dinner for the royal couple is scheduled for Rideau Hall on Tuesday evening.
The royals also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Tuesday morning. They are set to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Parliament Hill in the afternoon.
A group of top Swedish government ministers and representatives from dozens of Swedish companies are on hand as well, including Industry Minister Ebba Busch and Defence Minister Pal Jonson.
The visit comes as Swedish defence firm Saab is 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 to possibly assemble the jets in Canada, which would create thousands of jobs.
The two companies are already partnered on 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.
Saab was a finalist for the contract to replace Canada's fleet of CF-18 fighter jets — a contract that went to U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
Canada has committed to buying 16 of its F-35 stealth fighters in a deal that would allow for the purchase of up to 88 jets.
However, the Carney government has called for a review of that contract in response to the tariff war.
Picture Courtesy: AP Photo/Fernando Llano
