Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrived in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, welcomed to Rideau Corridor by a small crowd of onlookers waving Swedish flags.
Chief Justice Richard Wagner and International Affairs Minister Anita Anand have been a part of the Canadian delegation to welcome the royal couple, who’re making a three-day state go to that features stops within the nationwide capital and in Montreal.
“Our nations share an in depth and pleasant partnership grounded in frequent values and mutual respect,” the king stated in a brief speech outdoors Rideau Corridor.
He famous Canada was the primary nation to ratify Sweden’s utility to affix the North Atlantic Treaty Group.
Sweden grew to become the alliance’s latest member early final 12 months, 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 japanese flank in Latvia.
A World Affairs Canada information launch stated Canada and Sweden will reaffirm their help for Ukraine at a day occasion on the Nationwide Arts Centre.
“As Arctic nations, we share an important position in addressing our world challenges within the area and conserving it safe,” stated Carl XVI Gustaf, including there’s momentum within the Canada-Sweden relationship in sectors like defence, science, local weather and power.
The Swedish Royal Court docket stated Canada and Sweden will launch a strategic partnership this week.
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“Current years have introduced sweeping modifications to our world. We now have witnessed unprecedented challenges that check the resilience of our societies,” Wagner stated as a part of his official welcome remarks.
He was standing in for Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who’s recovering from sickness. A state dinner for the royal couple is scheduled for Rideau Corridor on Tuesday night.
The royals additionally laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Tuesday morning. They’re set to satisfy with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Parliament Hill within the afternoon.
A bunch of prime Swedish authorities ministers and representatives from dozens of Swedish firms are readily available as nicely, together with Trade Minister Ebba Busch and Defence Minister Pal Jonson.
The go to 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 authorities to probably assemble the jets in Canada, which might create hundreds of jobs.
The 2 firms are already partnered on World Eye early warning surveillance plane, that are manufactured in Canada and despatched to Sweden to have their sensor gear put in. Saab stated lately it needs to do extra of that work in Canada.
Saab was a finalist for the contract to switch Canada’s fleet of CF-18 fighter jets — a contract that went to U.S. producer Lockheed Martin.
Canada has dedicated to purchasing 16 of its F-35 stealth fighters in a deal that may enable for the acquisition of as much as 88 jets.
Nonetheless, the Carney authorities has referred to as for a evaluation of that contract in response to the tariff battle.
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