Nato allies Canada and Turkiye upgraded their relations to a “strategic partnership” during the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister on Thursday, as Mark Carney seeks new global trade partners to reduce reliance on the United States.
The new partnership signed in Ankara focuses on trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and social and diplomatic ties. It aims to create jobs and opportunities for Canadian and Turkish companies to do more business together.Carney is on a global trade blitz that he hopes will help buffer Canada from a trade war with the US, where President Donald Trump has applied sweeping tariffs and questioned the neighbouring country’s sovereignty.
Speaking next to Erdogan at Turkiye’s presidential palace, Carney said the strategic partnership would have four pillars and include a three-year action plan.
“We’ve planted the seeds of something new: a strategic partnership that will create new opportunities for our workers and businesses, and greater security and prosperity for both our peoples. With care and commitment, it will grow for generations to come,” Carney said.
At the ceremony, Canadian and Turkish ministers signed cooperation deals on energy, defence and air transport.
The agreement by Carney and Turkiye President Tayyip Erdogan marks a significant thaw in diplomatic ties that had long been cool over Canadian concerns over human rights and a past embargo on sending weapons to Turkiye.
