In a move to bolster international relations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Ankara, marking Carney’s first official bilateral visit to Türkiye. The visit underscores a mutual commitment to expanding diplomatic ties, trade, and cooperation across various sectors between the two nations.
Over the course of their two-day meeting, Erdoğan and Carney are expected to sign several agreements that will establish a strategic partnership. Key areas of collaboration include energy, nuclear power, sustainable mining, defense, aerospace, and advanced technologies. These agreements aim to turn diplomatic engagements into concrete trade and investment opportunities.
A potential free trade agreement is on the agenda, building on discussions from the recent NATO summit. Türkiye’s agreement to join Canada’s Defence, Security and Resilience Bank as a founding member highlights the growing cooperation in defense and security between the two countries.
Economic ties have been strengthening, with bilateral trade up by nearly 50% over the past five years. Both Türkiye and Canada see further potential in energy, critical minerals, aerospace, and advanced technology sectors. Türkiye is also exploring international partnerships for its second and third nuclear power plants, where Canadian companies could play a significant role.
Current trade dynamics include Canada exporting lentils, aerospace equipment, optical instruments, and electronics to Türkiye, while Türkiye exports iron and steel, machinery, fresh fruit, and dried fruit to Canada. Carney’s visit is part of Canada’s broader strategy to diversify its international trade partnerships and reduce reliance on the United States, while Türkiye aims to attract investment and strengthen industrial cooperation.
The visit marks a significant step forward in Türkiye-Canada relations, as both nations look to transform growing diplomatic engagement into tangible economic benefits.