Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch speaks during a joint discussion on the war in Ukraine in Ottawa on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The Canadian Press
Sweden’s deputy prime minister says her country stands ready to support Canada if Ottawa decides to shift away from its current fighter jet plan. Ebba Busch says Saab can provide the capability Canada needs if the government chooses to buy aircraft from several companies instead of relying only on the American-made F-35.
“Saab would be the ones that would have to answer for details of that sort,” Busch said during an interview on Power Play. “But the way that we have looked into this, together with our Canadian counterparts, we think that we can match what is needed for the Canadian interests.”
Busch arrived in Ottawa with the Swedish royal family for a state visit. The delegation includes top officials and major Swedish companies, including Saab.
Talks Grow as Canada Reviews the F-35 Deal
Last week, Saab’s president said he discussed the idea of building Gripen jets in Canada. These talks come while Canada reviews its plan to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets. Ottawa signed the deal in 2023 after years of delays. Sixteen aircraft are now in production. But rising tensions with the United States pushed the federal government to reopen the file this spring. No firm deadline exists for a final decision.
Kapelos asked Busch if Saab could fill the gap should Canada choose not to buy the remaining 72 F-35s. Busch replied, “The short answer is yes.”
Busch also joked about Sweden’s strong push to win Canada’s attention. “We brought in the heavy artillery: we brought in the King and Queen of Sweden,” she said. She added that these tense global times require strong and reliable partners. “Sweden is choosing Canada,” she said.
Canada Weighs a Multi-Company Fleet
Defence Minister David McGuinty recently said Canada may consider buying jets from more than one supplier. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly echoed that possibility. She said Canada continues to speak with Saab, partly because the Swedish offer includes the potential for thousands of jobs.
“I don’t believe that we’ve had enough jobs created and industrial benefits out of the F-35 contract,” Joly said. She called the idea of 10,000 jobs “very interesting” and said Canada must balance military needs with economic benefits.
Busch said cooperation between Sweden and Canada could grow. She believes this partnership would speed up approvals and help move production forward if a deal happens.
Responding to U.S. Warnings
Earlier this year, the U.S. ambassador suggested that Canada’s shift away from the F-35 could lead to hard talks about Norad. Busch dismissed the idea of bending under pressure from a close ally.
“I believe that the ones that cave under a pressure from a so-called friend… will also then show quite great weakness,” she said. She warned that weakness could be exploited, especially with the war in Ukraine continuing and concerns that Russia may expand the conflict.
“Canada needs to make their own decision, and Sweden will respect that,” she said. “We do not threaten our way into a deal.”
Busch said Sweden still values its relationship with the United States but now seeks partners who focus on shared long-term gains. She added that Sweden is ready to move “faster, stronger, harder, better” as Canada decides on the future of its fighter fleet.
