Canada, Türkiye to deepen defense, energy ties during Carney visit

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in Türkiye on October 21 for a three-day visit intended to inaugurate a new strategic relationship between the two nations. This trip marks the first time a Canadian head of government has made a dedicated bilateral visit to Ankara. During the itinerary, Carney is expected to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on October 22 before traveling to Istanbul on October 23 to engage with Turkish business leaders. Officials from both countries anticipate the signing of a joint declaration that will formalize expanded cooperation in defense, energy, trade, and diplomacy. The visit represents a pivotal moment in bilateral history, as no previous Canadian prime minister has visited Türkiye solely for bilateral purposes, nor has a Turkish president ever traveled to Canada. Marcel Lebleu, the Canadian ambassador to Türkiye who assumed his post in September, described the upcoming days as the beginning of a historic strategic partnership. Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency on October 20, Lebleu emphasized that Canada views Ankara as a vital strategic partner requiring increased investment in both economic and diplomatic spheres. He noted that this direction aligns with the shared visions of Carney and Erdoğan, who have met on two prior occasions. The primary objective of the trip is to diversify Canada’s economic partnerships and reduce its reliance on the United States. This strategy unfolds against the backdrop of a damaging trade dispute with Washington and an increasingly adversarial dynamic with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently questioned Canadian sovereignty. By strengthening ties with regional powers like Türkiye, Ottawa aims to mitigate these risks. A joint statement issued at the NATO summit in Ankara in July already announced the launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries. Technical teams have subsequently worked to define the scope and objectives of this potential deal. Trade figures underscore the momentum behind these efforts. Bilateral trade volume reached $2.74 billion in 2025, comprising $1.58 billion in Turkish exports and $1.16 billion in imports from Canada. In the first eight months of 2026, exports totaled $1.02 billion while imports stood at $954.8 million, bringing annualized bilateral trade close to $2 billion. Should the free trade agreement conclude successfully, both governments aim to elevate this figure to between $7 billion and $8 billion in the short term, with long-term targets reaching $10 billion. Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat previously held talks with Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu in June to advance this economic partnership. Energy cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the discussions. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that nuclear power would be a top agenda item. Ankara anticipates exploring potential purchases of Canadian liquefied natural gas and critical minerals. A working group is slated to assess the feasibility of a bid by Canada’s CANDU company to construct a planned nuclear plant on Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. Türkiye has engaged in preliminary talks regarding its second and third nuclear power plants with AtkinsRéalis, the engineering firm that owns CANDU, as well as with South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corporation and China’s State Power Investment Corporation. Russia’s Rosatom is currently constructing the country’s first nuclear facility. Defense industry collaboration constitutes another central pillar of the agenda. Discussions are likely to focus on drones and naval projects. In 2024, Canada lifted restrictions on arms exports to Türkiye, specifically removing controls on optical technologies utilized in Turkish-made drones. These drones are exported to dozens of nations. Beyond defense, Ottawa expresses interest in expanding cooperation in aerospace, mining, high technology, and agriculture. Carney’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson. In Istanbul, Carney is scheduled to meet with executives from major conglomerates, including Çalık Holding and Sabancı Holding, as well as representatives from defense and energy firms. These meetings aim to foster new opportunities for commercial collaboration. While a Canadian government official confirmed that the goal is to advance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defense, security, and people-to-people ties, officials declined to specify exactly which agreements would be signed. The proposed joint declaration is expected to establish committees in each key area to draft actionable plans. Turkish defense analysts suggest that shifting dynamics in North American politics have created openings for closer cooperation in ammunition production, drone technology, and naval systems. However, experts caution that major contractual agreements may not materialize immediately. Despite these reservations, the trajectory of the visits indicates a sustained effort to institutionalize deeper ties. The absence of previous high-level exchanges makes this current engagement a foundational step for future interactions. Both sides view the establishment of these working groups as essential to translating political intent into tangible economic and security outcomes over the coming years.