Canada and Turkey Launch Partnership on Trade, Energy and Defence
WHO:
The Globe and Mail - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a strategic partnership.
ABC News - Carney arrived in Turkey to meet Erdogan and other Turkish officials, then travel to Istanbul for talks with Turkish business groups.
The Globe and Mail - Carney was accompanied by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand raised human rights with her Turkish counterpart, according to Carney’s office.
ABC News - Canada’s Ambassador to Turkey, Marcel Lebleu, said the visit’s main purpose was to launch a strategic partnership through a joint declaration by the leaders.
The Globe and Mail - Turkey’s ambassador to Canada, Can Dizdar, said the countries could expand cooperation in drone technology, aerospace, naval systems, shipbuilding parts, munitions production and vehicles.
ABC News - Amnesty International’s Turkey director, Ruhat Sena Aksenir, urged Canada not to treat human rights as secondary in negotiations. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, described as Erdogan’s main rival, was imprisoned on corruption charges he denies.
WHAT:
The Globe and Mail - The leaders unveiled a three-year action plan to deepen political dialogue, trade, technological development and common security.
The Globe and Mail - Export Development Canada and Turk Eximbank will sign an agreement to help companies pursue joint ventures in foreign markets, focusing on energy, mining and critical minerals, infrastructure and transportation.
The Globe and Mail - An air transport agreement being finalized would increase the weekly passenger-flight allowance from 12 to 21, with no cargo-flight limit.
The Globe and Mail - Free-trade negotiations were set to begin the month after the announcement; Carney said International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu would lead a trade mission in 2027.
The Globe and Mail - Hodgson and his Turkish counterpart agreed to advance cooperation in liquefied natural gas, civilian nuclear energy, renewable energy and critical energy infrastructure. Carney said Canada could offer LNG, civilian nuclear technology, clean energy and critical minerals.
The Globe and Mail - Carney cited a recent defence-industry partnership intended to connect Canadian and Turkish companies, create jobs and export opportunities, and strengthen NATO.
The Globe and Mail - Erdogan said he hoped bilateral trade would roughly double to $10 billion and that he planned to visit Canada.
ABC News - Carney’s office said two-way trade increased by 50% over five years; the visit would promote opportunities in energy, aerospace, advanced technologies, mining and critical minerals.
The Globe and Mail - Two-way trade grew from about $1.6 billion in 2010 to $4.3 billion in 2025. In 2010, Canada exported $841.7 million to Turkey and imported $714.2 million; in 2025, it exported $1.1 billion and imported $3.2 billion.
The Globe and Mail - Turkey ranked as the 11th-largest arms exporter during 2021–25. Officials said potential cooperation could involve Turkish military-drone expertise, technology transfers and joint ventures; Turkish officials said over 80% of its defence-industry content was domestic.
ABC News - Canada lifted its weapons-export ban to Turkey in 2024. The restrictions followed Turkish military incursions into Syria and Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan against Armenia, including equipment using Canadian-made parts.
WHERE:
The Globe and Mail - The announcement took place at the Bestepe Presidential Complex in Ankara. Carney also laid a wreath at Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s mausoleum, Anıtkabir.
ABC News - Turkey planned a second nuclear power plant on the Black Sea coast; Russia’s Rusatom was building another on the Mediterranean coast.
WHEN:
The Globe and Mail - The partnership’s action plan covers three years; Sidhu’s trade mission was announced for 2027.
The Globe and Mail - The articles report that Canada-Turkey trade was $1.6 billion in 2010 and $4.3 billion in 2025.
ABC News - Canada lifted the weapons-export restrictions in 2024.
WHY:
The Globe and Mail; ABC News - Carney sought to diversify Canada’s partnerships and reduce reliance on the United States amid U.S. tariffs, retaliatory Canadian measures and statements questioning Canadian sovereignty.
The Globe and Mail - Carney said Canada was seeking “reliable partners”; he described his foreign policy approach with the maxim, “Engagement does not mean endorsement.”
HOW:
The Globe and Mail - The leaders said the partnership would deepen relations through joint work in trade, energy, defence, technology and security.
ABC News - Amnesty called on Carney to raise human-rights concerns. The article reported arrests of journalists and activists, including LGBTQ rights defenders, and a government-appointed administrator taking control of an opposition-aligned television station; Erdogan’s government said Turkish courts operate independently.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 02:20 UTC)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have launched a strategic partnership, as Canada seeks to diversify its international relationships. Announced in Ankara, the three-year plan covers trade, energy, technology, defence and security. The leaders also backed steps to help companies pursue joint ventures, while an air agreement would increase weekly passenger flights from 12 to 21. Carney said Canada could contribute liquefied natural gas, civilian nuclear technology, clean energy and critical minerals. Erdogan hopes to roughly double bilateral trade to $10 billion, and Canada’s trade mission to Turkey is planned for 2027. The countries are also exploring defence cooperation, including drones and aerospace, following Canada’s 2024 removal of weapons-export restrictions.