November 22, 2025
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, met on November 20 in Abu Dhabi to advance bilateral ties and set clear priorities for trade and investment. This historic meeting – the first at the leader level in over 40 years – underscores a shared commitment to promoting prosperity, stability and security through concrete actions.
Building on more than 50 years of bilateral relations, both leaders expressed a shared desire to further strengthen this partnership, advancing towards an ambitious roadmap to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, regional security, and people-to-people ties. Both countries recognize the capacity to leverage strategic strengths in AI and digital innovation, agri-food, water management and climate resilience, infrastructure, critical minerals, and energy to benefit both countries.
The visit of Prime Minister Carney to the UAE marks a new era in Canada-UAE relations, one that will further elevate bilateral ties and promote investment as a driver of innovation, economic growth, and expanded business opportunities.
Trade and economic relations
Canada and the UAE share strong and enduring economic relations, built on a robust foundation of mutual trust and shared commitment to deepen these ties. Bilateral merchandise trade reached CAD $3.4 billion in 2024, reflecting the depth and vitality of the partnership. The visit of Prime Minister Mark Carney underscores a deepening of this partnership, with a strong focus on trade diversification, and complementary engagement across strategic sectors, including energy, infrastructure, clean technology, food security, and innovation.
The Canada-UAE Joint Committee for Cooperation provides a key platform to enhance bilateral ties, assess progress, and align mutual priorities, while facilitating coordination between governments and encouraging private sector engagement. Building on this framework, the two leaders announced the signing of a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) and expressed their shared commitment to launch negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). These agreements provide investor protections, as well as liberalization and facilitation of trade in goods and services, broadening mutually beneficial commercial opportunities for Canadian and UAE companies and reinforcing a long-term, strategic, and sustainable economic partnership.
The two leaders also signalled their interest in strengthening people-to-people and commercial ties between the two countries through the announced expansion of the Canada-United Arab Emirates Air Transportation Agreement.
To further strengthen trade ties, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, will lead a high-level business delegation to the UAE in early 2026. This mission will support Canadian companies in building partnerships with UAE counterparts and investors across key sectors, including energy, AI, ICT, security, infrastructure, agri-food, and advanced technologies.
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a keynote address at the Investment Summit hosted by the Canadian–UAE Business Council. His remarks culminated in a series of high-level discussions, highlighting the achievements realized to date and articulating a bold vision for expanding investment opportunities, strengthening strategic partnerships across sectors, and deepening cooperation between the two nations.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and advancing a partnership that delivers tangible benefits for both countries. The two leaders commended the significant progress achieved in bringing the two countries closer. Canada and the UAE are connected by academic partnerships including joint research programs, the contributions of the growing Canadian community in the UAE, and cultural initiatives. The UAE is home to more than 66,000 Canadians and Canada is an outstanding education destination supporting Emiratis in their academic journey in fields such as medicine, engineering, and finance.
Energy
The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to energy security and to advancing a just and orderly energy transition. They agreed to deepen cooperation across LNG, nuclear energy, hydrogen, and responsible critical-minerals value-chain development, drawing on Canada’s strengths in resources and technology and the UAE’s global logistics and investment capabilities. The leaders welcomed the UAE’s growing investment presence in Canada and expressed their intention to expand mutually beneficial opportunities for collaboration in the energy sector.
Water
Both countries recognized the central role of water in global climate and development discussions and noted the importance of innovation in addressing water scarcity, including initiatives such as the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The UN Water Conference – to be co-hosted in 2026 by the UAE and Senegal – stands to be a key multilateral platform for elevating the global water agenda and strengthening international engagement on water resilience and sustainable water management, and emphasizing water’s importance for people, prosperity, peace, and the planet.
Agri-Food
Both countries recognize the importance of resilient and sustainable agri-food systems to global food security. Canada and the UAE have the complementary strengths of the UAE and Canada in agricultural innovation and the active economic and knowledge links already connecting both countries. Both countries are committed to exploring opportunities for collaboration that draw on these foundations and support modern, efficient, and climate-responsive agri-food systems.
Cooperation in advanced sciences, space and innovation
Canada and the UAE agreed to deepen collaboration in AI, digital innovation, FinTech, clean technology and sustainable energy, supported by continued dialogue among institutions and stakeholders to advance cooperation in research, commercialization, and responsible deployment. Both sides underscored the importance of building inclusive, secure, and sustainable industries that reinforce supply chain resilience, contribute to climate goals, and drive long- term economic growth.
Regional stability and security
Canada and the UAE also agreed to take concrete steps to promote peace, reinforce stability, and advance inclusive prosperity across the Middle East and beyond. Both countries underscored the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement, humanitarian leadership, and multilateral cooperation in addressing regional and global geo-political challenges.
Canada commended the UAE’s constructive role in humanitarian response and mediation initiatives and both leaders highlighted the need for durable, just solutions grounded in international law, the rules-based order system; and inclusive political processes. They further affirmed their intent to continue working together to advance shared objectives of stability, development, and human dignity.
The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
Both sides welcomed the leadership of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his Comprehensive Peace Plan to end the war in Gaza. The leaders also welcomed the adoption of resolution 2803 by the UN Security Council, which is a key instrument for implementing the plan, and charts a pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
They expressed appreciation for the substantial efforts undertaken by the U.S. and regional partners to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the importance of all parties adhering to the ceasefire in order to alleviate humanitarian suffering and support conditions conducive to lasting peace.
Both countries are concerned by the spread of extremism and extremist ideologies that fuel terrorism and lead to conflict and are committed to addressing hate speech, extremism, and racism by promoting tolerance and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, in line with the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2686. In this regard, Canada and the UAE are firm in rejecting extremism in all its forms and manifestations.
The leaders emphasized the importance of adherence to international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, and refraining from the use of force or threats. In this respect, they called for an end to the occupation of the three islands of the UAE - Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa - which constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the UAE and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
On Sudan, the two leaders condemned attacks against civilians, by the Rapid Support Forces and by the Sudanese Armed Forces. They emphasized the need for both warring parties and their affiliates to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law including the rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Sudan. They further welcomed the ongoing efforts of the Quad (United States, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Egypt) and the need for an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive and transparent transition process that paves the way toward establishing an independent, civilian-led government with broad-based legitimacy and accountability. They further stressed that Sudan’s future cannot be dictated by extremist groups whose destabilizing influence has fueled violence and instability across the region.
During the visit, Prime Minister Carney visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest in the UAE and among the largest in the world. There, he paid tribute to the legacy of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding President and father of the current President.
At the conclusion of the visit, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his sincere appreciation to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended throughout the visit. He highlighted his confidence in a future marked by even deeper cooperation and shared prosperity, strengthened by mutual trust, close friendship, and a common vision for advancing the partnership between Canada and the UAE.
November 22, 2025
Ottawa, Ontario
“Today, we remember the millions of Ukrainians who suffered and died during the Holodomor – a genocide carried out by Stalin’s Soviet regime in 1932 and 1933. It was a deliberate attempt to starve and eradicate the Ukrainian nation, yet Ukraine endured.
For centuries, Russia has sought to dominate Ukraine. Time and time again, Ukrainians have fought back with tremendous determination – on the battlefield, in their communities, and through their unwavering commitment to their sovereignty, land, and heritage.
Today, Ukraine is once again under threat. President Putin follows in the footsteps of those before him. He menaces Ukraine’s skies, threatens its cities, and destroys its fields. Our message to the Ukrainian people: Your cause is our cause. We stand with you – now and always.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Canada has provided nearly $22 billion in multifaceted assistance for Ukraine, including over $12 billion in direct financial support – making Canada among the largest contributors to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
Ukraine’s strength today stands as the clearest rebuke to those who have tried to erase it. While the Soviet regime sought to suppress the truth of the Holodomor, we have a responsibility to ensure it is never forgotten. On this Holodomor Memorial Day, we honour the memory of the innocent lives lost and stand in solidarity with Ukrainian communities in Canada and around the world.
Slava Ukraini.”
November 22, 2025
Johannesburg, South Africa
Australia, Canada, and India today agreed to enter into a new trilateral technology and innovation partnership: the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership.
The three sides agreed to strengthen their ambition in cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, to complement existing bilateral initiatives.
The initiative will draw on the natural strengths of the three countries and have an emphasis on green energy innovation and building resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals. It will deepen their respective ambition and strategic collaboration towards net zero and drive further diversification of supply chains towards a secure, sustainable, and resilient future. The Partnership will also examine the development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the lives of our citizens.
They agreed that officials should convene in the first quarter of 2026 to take the initiative forward.
November 22, 2025
Johannesburg, South Africa
This statement was adopted by Prime Minister Carney, President Macron, Prime Minister Martin, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Sánchez, Prime Minister Schoof, Prime Minister Starmer, Prime Minister Støre, President Stubb, Prime Minister Takaichi, President Costa, and President von der Leyen.
We welcome the continued US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.
The initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.
We believe therefore that the draft is a basis which will require additional work. We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack.
We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need the consent of EU and NATO members respectively.
We take this opportunity to underline the strength of our continued support to Ukraine. We will continue to coordinate closely with Ukraine and the US over the coming days.
November 21, 2025
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The world is more dangerous and divided. The scale and speed of recent trade shifts and technological developments mean that Canada’s economic strategy must change dramatically. Canada’s new government is on a mission to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade and unleash $1 trillion in new investment in Canada over five years. As part of this mission, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, today concluded his visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he deepened the trade relationship and secured new agreements to attract massive pools of foreign capital.
During the visit, Prime Minister Carney and the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signed the new Canada-UAE Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). This agreement establishes clear, predictable rules for investors and ensures a stable business environment to unlock billions in bilateral investment. It will give Canadian firms – from engineering and construction to clean tech and AI – the confidence to expand abroad, creating high-paying careers in Canada. Once in force, the FIPA will support long-term partnerships between Canadian and UAE industries and attract capital to nation-building projects.
The Prime Minister and His Highness also announced that Canada and the UAE launched negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). A CEPA will cut tariffs, eliminate red tape, and expand market access for Canadian exporters of goods and services. With a $700 billion economy and one of the world’s fastest-growing logistics hubs, the UAE offers vast opportunity for Canadian sectors such as engineering, aerospace, agri-food, and seafood. A CEPA will also facilitate greater collaboration in the digital sectors. Canada’s similar agreements with the Republic of Korea and Chile doubled trade within a decade, and these new agreements have the potential to double Canada-UAE trade from $3.4 billion to $7 billion in the next decade.
While in Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Carney met with UAE business executives, including the leadership of sovereign wealth funds. Discussions focused on expanding investment in critical minerals, energy, ports, and AI. Canada welcomes the UAE’s historic decision to invest $70 billion (US$50 billion) in Canada, a powerful vote of confidence in our economy and a major step forward in our new strategic partnership that will create high-paying careers, catalyse further investment, and build long-term prosperity for both our countries.
Building on these conversations, the following initiatives were announced:
- Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, will lead a Canadian business delegation in early 2026, focusing on energy, AI, infrastructure, and agriculture. The delegation will also encourage major UAE investors and sovereign wealth funds to visit Canada and work with the Major Projects Office on opportunities in LNG, critical minerals, ports, data infrastructure, and more.
- Canada’s pension funds – with $2 trillion in capital – will visit the UAE next year to develop new opportunities for long-term investment and deepen partnerships in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and AI.
- UAE sovereign wealth funds will visit Canada early next year to identify investment opportunities in Canadian energy, infrastructure, and technology.
- There will be more direct commercial flights between Canada and the UAE, increasingtourism, cargo, and trade.
The Prime Minister attended the Canada-UAE Investment Summit convening senior leaders from government, sovereign wealth funds, and the private sector where a number of agreements were concluded and advanced. This includes:
- Mila is launching a new partnership with the UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute to advance research on AI architecture.
- BlackBerry has signed a partnership with the UAE’s Cyber Security Council to strengthen cyber cooperation and infrastructure.
- Invest in Canada and the UAE’s Ministry of Investment will partner to identify and explore large-scale investment opportunities in Canada.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also emphasised Canada’s longstanding support for a just, lasting, and sustainable peace in the Middle East as well as our ongoing work with international partners to promote stability in the region.
Quote
“In a more divided and dangerous world, Canada is securing new deals with new partners. Our agreements with the UAE will attract billions of dollars in investments into Canada, open new markets and opportunities for our workers and businesses, and create high-paying careers across the country. Canada is diversifying our trade and finding new investors to fuel our plans to build Canada strong.”
— The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
Quick facts
- This was Prime Minister Carney’s first official visit to the UAE, and the first by a Canadian Prime Minister since 1983.
- The Prime Minister’s visit builds on recent high-level engagement between Canada and the UAE:
- In June 2025, Canada welcomed a ministerial delegation led by the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During the visit, both countries affirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, innovation, and regional stability.
- Last month, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, also visited the UAE, where he signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral collaboration on AI and emerging technologies, further advancing bilateral trade and innovation ties.
- For over 50 years, Canada and the UAE have enjoyed a strong and broad relationship focused on building prosperity through economic cooperation, strengthening regional security, and advancing economic development in third countries.
- More than 150 Canadian companies have an operational presence in the UAE, and it is estimated that 60,000 Canadians live and work in the country.
Related product
Associated link
November 18, 2025
Ottawa, Ontario
Northern allies, innovators, and trade partners: Strategic partnership between Canada and Sweden
A partnership based on common values and mutual interests
Canada and Sweden (the “Participants”) share a close relationship with extensive cooperation based on common values and mutual interests. As NATO Allies, we stand united in defending our freedom, territories, values, and interests. We are like-minded Arctic nations with shared interests in the North Atlantic and the Arctic region, and who recognise the vital contributions and rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic in keeping with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and international law. Canada and Sweden affirm our strong commitment to democracy and multilateralism, and to upholding human rights, including gender equality, the rule of law and the rules-based international order and trade system.
We confirm our shared desire to reinforce our bilateral relations through the establishment of this Strategic Partnership. It will strengthen the already close relations between our countries and further develop our cooperation in key policy areas, inter alia, competitiveness, trade and investment, economic development, security and defence, digital transition, science and research, innovation and technology, green transition, climate and energy, and Arctic cooperation and North-North connections. This Strategic Partnership reflects the rich and deepening ties between our peoples, governments, institutions, and businesses across the breadth of our relationship. It is aligned with the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement, EU-Canada Security and Defence Partnership and Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
A reliable trade partnership
We are like-minded supporters of free and rules-based trade. Canada and Sweden have complementary economies and enjoy a strong and growing commercial relationship, and this Strategic Partnership can unlock significant opportunities for both countries. The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement offers predictability and transparency for businesses from both countries, and our countries are witnessing rapidly growing trade and investment relations.
Canada and Sweden will work together to further strengthen our business, commercial and industrial links, focusing particularly on sectors that will be most effective in enhancing the competitiveness, and productivity of our economies. We are committed to further diversifying and strengthening the resilience of our respective economies while reducing vulnerabilities in supply chains to minimize harmful dependencies.
This Strategic Partnership aims at promoting competitiveness and innovative solutions to societal challenges, such as the digital and green transition, as well as emerging strategic challenges. Leveraging key resources – such as our critical minerals, energy, and talent – will create new market opportunities for Canadian and Swedish businesses, foster sustainable economic development and create jobs, and help us achieve ambitions across a range of priorities from security and defence to prosperity, and climate goals.
A joint commitment to security, defence, and stability
Enhancing our partnership is more important than ever given the global challenges we face together, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, increasing cyber and hybrid threats, the increasing impact of climate change and the corresponding need for higher global climate ambition. Canada and Sweden are committed to deepening and broadening our bilateral engagement to tackle these shared challenges, including by the development of a mutual arrangement on strengthened defence cooperation.
As close transatlantic partners, NATO Allies and Arctic nations, Canada and Sweden are committed to strengthening the transatlantic link further. Our joint responses to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have demonstrated the importance of transatlantic unity and cooperation. NATO remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and the bedrock of collective defence.
Canada and Sweden’s shared commitment to security and defence in the Euro-Atlantic area and the close partnership as NATO Allies provides an opportunity for deeper military cooperation between our countries, including through Canada’s role as framework nation for the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. We recognize the potential for joint defence procurement, production, capability development and innovation.
We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. We concur on the need to ensure accountability for Russia’s international crimes, including by establishing a special tribunal for the crime of aggression.
Canada and Sweden support Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts for a just and lasting peace based on international law and the UN Charter. To this end, Canada and Sweden will continue to work closely together with our other partners in the Coalition of the Willing to develop security guarantees for Ukraine and to support its defence. Canada and Sweden will also continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration; Ukraine’s future is in NATO. We will continue our support to Ukraine for as long as it takes, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Recognizing that Russia will remain the most significant threat to Euro-Atlantic security for the foreseeable future, Canada and Sweden will continue to cooperate closely to constrain and contest Russia’s aggressive actions and counter its ability to conduct destabilising activities. We underline the importance of limiting Russia’s ability to wage its war of aggression, including through supporting sanctions and measures against the shadow fleet transporting Russian oil used to circumvent sanctions and the G7 oil price cap.
Canada and Sweden recognise the value of our likeminded approach to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation and continued cooperation within the frameworks of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (the Ottawa Convention), the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament and the Initiative for Reducing the Risk of Nuclear Conflict.
Guided by the core principles of multilateral cooperation, international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), territorial integrity, and the rules-based international order, Canada and Sweden are committed to strengthening our collaboration to address the complex global challenges in the Arctic and maintain the region as secure, peaceful, and prosperous. Canada and Sweden both recognize the Arctic Council as the pre-eminent forum for Arctic governance and cooperation on sustainable development and environmental protection in the region, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and for the benefit of the people living in the Arctic.
Canada and Sweden recognise that the prosperity and security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are inextricably linked. We will work to bolster partnerships with the Indo-Pacific region, including through the implementation of Canada’s and the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategies, and Sweden’s defence policy direction for the Indo-Pacific region.
Enabling innovation and competitiveness through a strategic focus on science and technology
Canada and Sweden are global leaders in science and innovation. We recognise that our capacity in this respect is the key to solving the grand challenges of our time and fundamental for sustainable economic development and job creation.
We will build on the already close cooperation within established bodies such as the European Space Agency, Arctic Council, and others. Canada and Sweden encourage research collaboration between higher education institutions and research institutions, including through the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe. To maintain our leadership in science and innovation we will foster research excellence, safeguard academic freedom and strengthen responsible internationalisation.
By leveraging closer collaboration in research and technology development, Canada and Sweden will continue to drive innovation while also supporting the responsible use and commercialisation of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum and space technologies, next-generation wireless networks, including 5G and 6G, and clean energy. This cooperation is expected to foster robust innovation ecosystems, unlock business opportunities, and support long-term economic growth.
Canada and Sweden will enhance cooperation in health, as well as pandemic and health emergency preparedness and response, focusing on pharmaceutical policy, life sciences, supply chain resilience, industrial cooperation, and medical countermeasures. Canada and Sweden will also endeavour to share knowledge and best practices in infectious disease monitoring and surveillance, as well as progress we have made towards global disease elimination targets.
Firmly committed to international development, environmental protection, climate action, and clean energy
Canada and Sweden are committed to the implementation of international development priorities and delivering accelerated progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Global Framework on Chemicals. As members of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, Canada and Sweden share the common ambition of ending plastic pollution by 2040.
Canada and Sweden are committed to advancing global climate action and efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C as set out in the Paris Agreement. Together, we will accelerate action in order to achieve net-zero emissions. This will be done in accordance with our respective national targets and in keeping with the science, including through cooperation on nuclear power, nuclear safety, and clean technologies. In response to shifting geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics, we will aim to deepen bilateral cooperation and promote the global adoption of advanced technologies in areas such as decarbonized steel, critical minerals, and small modular reactors, thereby supporting a sustainable and resilient future.
Scope of cooperation
Pillar 1: Economic development, competitiveness, trade and investment
Within this pillar, Canada and Sweden will deepen our partnership and cooperation in the following policy areas and topics, including but not limited to:
- bilateral trade, investment, and innovation relations
- economic security including critical minerals, foreign investment screening, and resilient and secure supply chains
- forestry, forest products and forest-based bioeconomy
- international trade and the multilateral trading system, including the WTO
- mining and critical minerals
- modular and prefabricated housing innovation
- talent attraction, migration and integration
Work within this pillar will be coordinated by Global Affairs Canada and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Pillar 2: Security, defence, and resilience
Within this pillar, Canada and Sweden will deepen our partnership and cooperation in the following policy areas and topics, including but not limited to:
- NATO and the transatlantic link
- long-term support to Ukraine
- strategic dialogue on security and defence issues
- military and civilian training and exercises, including multilaterally
- defence industrial co-operation in the land, air, and maritime domain, including critical underwater infrastructure
- defence materiel cooperation including information exchange, joint test and evaluation, exchange of personnel, common capability development and joint procurement
- defence research and development, innovation and technology, including new emerging and disruptive technologies, such as exploring advanced cyber capability, quantum technology and artificial intelligence
- defence logistics support and security of supply
- hybrid threats, cyber defence and cyber security, disinformation, and the space domain
- secure information exchange and situational awareness
- women, peace and security, including but not limited to women in peace operations
- arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
- export control on military equipment and dual-use items
- climate-security nexus
- civilian missions and military operations under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy
- societal resilience, civil preparedness and the Swedish total defence concept
- democracy support
Work within this pillar will be coordinated by Global Affairs Canada and Canada’s Department of National Defence, and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence.
Pillar 3: Arctic cooperation and North-North connections
Within this pillar, Canada and Sweden will deepen our partnership and cooperation in the following policy areas and topics, including but not limited to:
- Arctic Council
- civil safety, and security and defence
- Indigenous culture and language
- Northern and Indigenous trade and export
- polar and Arctic research
- polar connectivity and infrastructure
Work within this pillar will be coordinated by Global Affairs Canada and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Pillar 4: Digital transition, research, science, innovation, technology, health and life sciences
Within this pillar, Canada and Sweden will deepen our partnership and cooperation in the following policy areas and topics, including but not limited to:
- antimicrobial resistance in the animal sector
- artificial intelligence
- biomanufacturing and life sciences
- digitalization and connectivity
- health emergency and pandemic preparedness and life sciences innovation
- infectious disease monitoring and surveillance
- next generation wireless networks and the use of secure, resilient and trusted connectivity, including 5G and 6G
- pharmaceutical policy
- quantum technology
- space
Work within this pillar will be coordinated by Canada’s Department for Industry, Science and Economic Development, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Sweden’s Ministry of Education and Research and Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.
Pillar 5: Climate, environment, and energy
Within this pillar, Canada and Sweden will deepen our partnership and cooperation in the following policy areas and topics, including but not limited to:
- climate action, including mitigation, adaptation and finance, and with a focus on measures and technologies to close the ambition gap and advance implementation of national climate plans, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), in line with efforts to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming goal within reach
- environmental protection, including plastic pollution
- promoting the deployment of clean electricity and nuclear power
- natural disasters and risk management
- nuclear power and direct and indirect fossil free electrification of the energy system, and nuclear safety, management of spent fuel and radioactive waste
Work within this pillar will be coordinated by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada, and Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and Enterprise.
Application and review
This Strategic Partnership will bring together people, governments, institutions, and businesses, and paves the way for deepened cooperation between Canada and Sweden. An action plan will be developed with concrete actions in the pillars and their respective policy areas and topics set out above. These actions will be specified in the action plan and could include, inter alia:
- conferences, roundtables and business fora
- establishment of memoranda of understanding, agreements and treaties
- exchange and sharing of information and assessments
- exchange of expertise, experiences and best practices
- increased contacts and visits at political and civil servant levels, including government agencies
- joint engagement with external stakeholders such as businesses, academia and research institutes, think tanks and civil society organizations
- joint political initiatives and formulation of political positions, including in multilateral organizations, formats and contexts
- joint projects and cooperation platforms
- personnel exchange and secondments
- promotion of people-to-people contacts
- regular consultations at political and civil servant levels, including the establishment of dialogue formats and mechanisms
Global Affairs Canada and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs will coordinate the application of this Strategic Partnership and its action plan, and review progress across the full range of policy areas and topics, in close consultation with the respective departments and ministries, and their subordinated government agencies.
Canada and Sweden will review progress of this Strategic Partnership and its action plan annually or when otherwise required.
Amendments of this Strategic Partnership and its action plan may be decided through regular diplomatic channels of communication between Canada and Sweden.
The Participants may amend this Strategic Partnership at any time upon their mutual written consent.
Either Participant may terminate this Strategic Partnership by giving to the other Participant ninety (90) days’ written notice of its intent to terminate.
Legal
This Strategic Partnership is not legally binding under international law.
Signed in the English and French languages, each version being equally valid.
