Carney calls Turkey a key strategic partner, signals closer Canada-Turkey ties

(Horizon Media / TORONTO) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has underscored Turkey’s growing strategic importance within NATO, describing the country as a pivotal regional power and indicating that Ottawa intends to expand its engagement with Ankara.

Addressing reporters in Toronto, Carney said Turkey occupies a vital geopolitical position linking Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus, making it an important partner in addressing regional and international security issues.

He noted that the Canadian government is working to build a stronger bilateral relationship with Turkey, adding that while discussions are still at an early stage, there is a clear interest in increasing cooperation between the two countries.

Carney confirmed that he will travel to Ankara next month to attend the 2026 NATO Summit, where alliance leaders are expected to focus on collective defence, regional stability and emerging security threats. He also revealed that he is likely to return to Turkey for a separate visit later this year, reflecting Canada’s desire for more sustained high-level dialogue.

The comments build on a phone conversation held in April between Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the call, Erdogan invited the Canadian prime minister to both the NATO Summit and the COP31 climate conference in Ankara while emphasizing opportunities to strengthen collaboration in sectors such as defence, energy and civil aviation.

According to Turkish officials, Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and highlighted the two countries’ shared positions on a number of regional and global challenges, as well as Ankara’s ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in its neighbourhood.

In another sign of deepening economic ties, Turkey and Canada have agreed to launch exploratory discussions toward a potential free trade agreement (FTA). The announcement was made in a joint statement issued Tuesday by the two countries’ trade ministries following a meeting between Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu.

The statement said the ministers discussed ways to further strengthen the expanding economic partnership between Turkey and Canada, with the prospective trade negotiations seen as a step toward boosting bilateral commerce and investment.

The planned high-level visits and growing economic cooperation reflect a broader effort by Ottawa and Ankara to deepen their partnership at a time when NATO allies are seeking closer coordination on security, trade and regional stability amid an evolving geopolitical landscape.

The prospect of closer Canada–Türkiye relations has also generated concern among segments of the Canadian public, particularly within the Armenian and Greek communities. Community organizations and advocates have continued to urge Ottawa to approach any expansion of bilateral ties with caution, citing Türkiye’s destabilizing role in regional conflicts and longstanding disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean and South Caucasus. They have also pointed to the 2020 controversy involving the diversion of Canadian-made WESCAM drone technology to Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh war, arguing that the episode demonstrated an abuse of Canada’s trust and highlighted the need for stronger safeguards and oversight in any future defence or strategic cooperation with Ankara.