Full Breakdown
Canada-Turkey Strategic Partnership: Carney’s First Bilateral Visit
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Signing of a Strategic Partnership
On October 22 (scheduled), Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, marking the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister. The leaders announced a “strategic partnership” covering defence, energy, trade and people-to-people ties, and launched negotiations for a comprehensive free-trade agreement (FTA). Three cooperation agreements on the defence industry, transportation and energy were signed, and an expanded air-transport accord increased weekly passenger flights from 12 to up to 21, with unlimited cargo flights.
Background & Context
Canada has been seeking to reduce its reliance on the United States after a trade dispute that began with U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Relations with Turkey had been strained after Canada imposed a de-facto arms embargo in 2021 over alleged diversion of Canadian drone parts to Azerbaijan. The ban was lifted in 2024, paving the way for renewed defence cooperation.
Data & Statistics
- Bilateral merchandise trade reached $4.3 billion in 2025, with Canadian exports of $1.1 billion and imports of $3.2 billion (Prime Minister’s Office).
- Trade volume has risen by nearly 50 % over the past five years.
- Both sides aim to raise annual trade from roughly $3 billion to $5 billion initially, then to $10 billion, according to Erdogan (AP; Al Jazeera).
- The first round of FTA negotiations is scheduled for November 30–December 4, 2026, in Ankara (Prime Minister’s Office).
Official Statements & Responses
Erdogan described the step as “historic” and said it would move relations beyond symbolic gestures. Canadian officials highlighted the three-year action plan’s four pillars—trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and people-to-people ties—and pledged to support Turkey’s energy diversification, including nuclear and LNG projects.
Criticism & Opposition
Amnesty International’s Turkey director, Ruhat Sena Aksener, warned that the partnership should not sideline human-rights concerns. She cited the arrest of journalists, LGBTQ+ activists and opposition politicians, and the takeover of the opposition-aligned Halk TV on October 14. Aksener urged Canada to make accountability central to the negotiations. Canadian officials declined to comment on whether human-rights issues were raised directly with Erdogan.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise impact of the lifted weapons-export ban. AP notes the ban was lifted in 2024 after Turkey’s incursions into Syria and support for Azerbaijan, while other outlets simply reference the 2024 removal without detailing the specific equipment. The partnership’s trade-growth targets lack a clear timeline, leaving the feasibility of reaching $10 billion uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have taken a historic step toward the future of our relations,” — Recep Tayyip Erdogan
- “No country, whatever it’s blessed with, no country builds strength alone,” — Mark Carney
- “Today we are going further by launching our strategic partnership backed by a three-year action plan. That plan rests on four pillars. First, trade and investment, secondly, defense and security. Third, energy, and fourth, people to people ties,” — Mark Carney
What’s Next
Negotiators will convene in Ankara for the first FTA round between November 30 and December 4, 2026. Canada’s trade mission to Turkey is slated for 2027, and both governments plan to expand cooperation on nuclear energy, critical minerals and defence projects, subject to case-by-case export reviews.