OMM Newsroom
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have announced a strategic partnership to expand ties in trade, defence and energy. The agreement was presented as a new stage in relations between the NATO allies.
Carney announced the agreement on Thursday during a visit to Ankara, AnewZ reported. He was the first Canadian prime minister to visit Türkiye. Ottawa is seeking to diversify its trade partners and reduce its dependence on the U.S. economy.
The two countries agreed on a three-year action plan covering four areas: trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and people-to-people ties. Canadian and Turkish ministers also signed agreements in energy, defence and air transport.
At a joint news conference at the presidential complex in Ankara, Carney said the partnership would create new economic opportunities and strengthen the security of both countries. Erdoğan called the agreement a “historic step” towards closer ties. The two sides aim to increase bilateral trade from $3 billion to $10 billion.
The leaders also agreed to work on a comprehensive free trade agreement. Talks are expected to begin in Ankara next month.
Carney’s visit comes amid rising trade tensions between Canada and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs and remarks questioning Canada’s sovereignty have prompted Ottawa to seek new economic partners.
Before departing for Türkiye on Wednesday, Carney did not directly address the dispute with Washington during the visit, but criticised Trump’s tariffs. He said they “upend a trade agreement that had been in place for decades.”
For Türkiye, the partnership offers opportunities to attract foreign investment in its defence industry, nuclear energy projects and critical minerals sector, and to expand technological cooperation.
Relations between the two countries had previously been strained after Canada imposed restrictions on exports of optical equipment used in Turkish-made drones. Ottawa lifted the restrictions in 2024, paving the way for renewed cooperation in the defence industry.
Carney will travel to Istanbul on Friday accompanied by senior Canadian ministers. He is due to meet Turkish investors and businesspeople.
