ANCC warns against compromising Canadian values as Carney moves to deepen ties with Turkey

OTTAWA— The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) has warned against compromising Canadian principles in pursuit of closer relations with Turkey, as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a historic bilateral visit to Ankara aimed at expanding trade, energy and defence cooperation.

In an article published by The Globe and Mail, senior political reporter Steven Chase examines Carney’s foreign policy approach, described as “values-based realism,” and the challenges of strengthening ties with Turkey amid concerns over human rights violations, democratic backsliding and Ankara’s military support for Azerbaijan.

“Values-based realism must not become a convenient justification for compromising fundamental principles in pursuit of economic or strategic interests,” ANCC national board member Sevag Belian told The Globe and Mail.

The concerns come as Reuters reported on October 20 that Canada and Turkey are expected to sign a joint declaration during Carney’s visit, establishing a framework for deeper cooperation in defence, energy, economic relations and diplomatic ties. The proposed arrangement would create bilateral committees tasked with developing concrete action plans.

Defence discussions are expected to focus on drone technology and naval cooperation, while energy negotiations could include Canadian liquefied natural gas exports, critical minerals and the potential involvement of Canada’s CANDU nuclear technology in a proposed power plant on Turkey’s Black Sea coast.

The prospect of renewed defence cooperation is particularly sensitive given Ankara’s military involvement in the 2020 Artsakh war, during which Canadian-made targeting technology installed on Turkish drones was used by Azerbaijan against Armenian forces. Ottawa subsequently suspended relevant military export permits before easing restrictions in early 2024.

Prominent Armenian-Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan also expressed reservations about Ottawa’s rapprochement with Ankara.

“Canadian made technology must never be shared with a NATO ally which then deploys such technology to a non-NATO member aimed at the eradication of Armenian presence on historic lands,” Egoyan told The Globe and Mail.

“In so doing, a history of genocide is perpetuated,” he added.

Chase’s report also highlights Turkey’s deteriorating human rights record, including recent crackdowns on opposition media, LGBTQ organizations and government critics under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Carney’s visit, the first dedicated bilateral trip to Turkey by a sitting Canadian prime minister, forms part of Ottawa’s broader strategy to diversify trade away from the United States.

However, the prospect of expanded military and strategic cooperation with Ankara raises renewed questions about Canada’s willingness to uphold its longstanding commitments to human rights, accountability and democratic values while pursuing economic and geopolitical interests.