Carney and Erdogan launch Canada-Turkiye strategic partnership
The two leaders announced a three-year action plan covering trade, defence, energy and people-to-people ties, with free trade talks due to start this year.
At a glance
- Canada and Turkiye launched a strategic partnership with a three-year action plan on trade, defence, energy and people-to-people ties.
- Erdogan said the countries aim to raise bilateral trade from about $3bn to $5bn, and later to $10bn.
- Free trade negotiations are due to begin before the end of the year, with a first round of talks in Ankara next month.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the launch of a Canada-Turkiye Strategic Partnership on Thursday, backed by a three-year action plan, during Carney's two-day visit to Turkiye.
In a joint statement, the two leaders said a "strong and resilient" partnership was essential in an increasingly complex global security environment, marked by rising geopolitical uncertainty and evolving humanitarian challenges.
Four pillars
The three-year plan rests on four areas: trade and investment; defence and security; energy; and ties between people.
On trade, investment and innovation, the leaders agreed to work towards a successful conclusion of a Canada-Turkiye Free Trade Agreement, and to expand bilateral trade and investment in priority sectors including energy supply, defence production, aerospace and artificial intelligence.
On defence and security, they underlined their intent to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation and to strengthen cooperation in support of peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond, including Ukraine, the South Caucasus and the Middle East, in particular Gaza.
Energy ministers from both countries will work on areas such as liquefied natural gas, nuclear energy and critical minerals, according to the statement.
Trade volume targets
Speaking to reporters in Ankara alongside Carney, Erdogan said the two countries hope to increase their trade volume, currently around $3bn, to $5bn initially and then to $10bn. He said the sides had agreed to begin free trade agreement negotiations before the end of the year, adding that a strategic partnership would not be merely a symbolic step on paper.
The joint statement said Canadian and Turkish leaders will convene in Ankara next month for the first round of trade talks.
'A new era'
Erdogan said the two countries had overcome a disconnect that had persisted for many years. Carney said relations would expand "for generations to come", adding that Canada's goal was collective resilience rather than self-sufficiency, and that Turkiye was an exceptional partner.
The trip is the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Turkiye, although Carney travelled to Ankara in July for a NATO summit. He was scheduled to meet Erdogan and other officials before travelling to Istanbul for talks with Turkish business groups.
Carney has sought to diversify Canada's partnerships and reduce reliance on the United States amid an escalating trade war with US President Donald Trump, marked by US tariffs on Canadian goods, retaliatory measures from Canada, and Trump's statements questioning Canadian sovereignty.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- What is the Canada-Turkiye Strategic Partnership?
- It is a partnership announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, backed by a three-year action plan covering trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and ties between people.
- Are Canada and Turkiye negotiating a free trade agreement?
- Yes. Erdogan said the two sides agreed to begin free trade agreement negotiations before the end of the year, with the first round of trade talks to be held in Ankara next month.
- How much trade is there between Canada and Turkiye?
- Erdogan said bilateral trade volume currently stands at around $3bn. The two countries aim to raise it to $5bn initially and then to $10bn.
