Full Breakdown
Prime Minister Mark Carney Plans First Bilateral Visit to Turkey Amid Expanding Trade Talks
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Planned Bilateral Meeting in Ankara
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to travel to Turkey later this month for a dedicated bilateral meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan. The trip would be the first stand-alone visit by a Canadian leader to Turkey in recent decades. Sources with knowledge of the itinerary say the leaders are expected to discuss the free-trade negotiations launched at the July NATO summit in Ankara, as well as possible cooperation in energy and defence sectors. Neither Carney’s office nor the Turkish president’s office has responded to requests for comment.
Background & Context: Shift Toward Non-U.S. Trade
Carney has pledged to double Canada’s non-U.S. trade over the next ten years, positioning the Turkey visit as part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on the United States after trade talks collapsed in August 2025. Since assuming office, he has pursued new partnerships with countries such as China and India, emphasizing economic growth over human-rights considerations. In 2024 Canada removed weapons-export controls on Turkey, including optical technology used in drones, a move that helped thaw bilateral ties.
Timeline
- July 2025 – At the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, Carney and Erdogan formally launched negotiations for a free-trade agreement.
- June 2025 – Canadian and Turkish trade ministers met and agreed to accelerate talks ahead of the leaders’ meeting.
- October 2 2026 – Reuters reported the planned visit, noting that the exact dates and agenda remain undisclosed.
Data & Statistics
- Turkey accounted for less than 0.3 % of Canada’s total merchandise trade in 2025, amounting to C$4.34 billion (? $3.05 billion), compared with C$1 trillion in trade with the United States (Statistics Canada).
- Canada’s exports to Turkey include lentils, aircraft and electronics; imports consist of medical devices, fishing vessels, aircraft engines and jewelry.
- Turkey is a founding member of Canada’s Defence Security and Resilience Bank, joining nine other “middle-powers” in the multilateral financing initiative.
Official Statements & Responses
- No official comment was provided by the Prime Minister’s Office or the Turkish president’s office at the time of reporting.
- President Erdogan asserted that an independent judiciary is examining opposition activities in Turkey and rejected claims that the probes are politically motivated.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sources confirmed the visit is planned for “later this month,” but did not disclose specific dates, the full agenda, or the outcomes expected from the free-trade talks.
- The lack of official statements from either government leaves the precise scope of energy and defence cooperation under discussion unclear.