Prime Minister Carney's historic visit to Türkiye launches new Strategic Partnership across trade, defence, and energy

ISTANBUL, Türkiye, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- The world is changing rapidly. Global trade is being rewired and the institutions that underpinned our security for decades are under threat. In response, Canada is focused on what we can control: building our strength at home and deeper partnerships with reliable partners abroad to create greater certainty, security, and prosperity for Canadians. As a NATO Ally and G20 member, Türkiye is a critical partner in this mission, and one with significant untapped potential.

Türkiye is one of the world's most dynamic economies, with a market of more than 85 million people. It sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with a network of 24 free trade agreements. It has NATO's second-largest standing military and one of the world's most important and innovative defence industries.

To deepen the Canada-Türkiye partnership, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, concluded a successful visit to Ankara and Istanbul. This historic occasion marked the first bilateral visit to Türkiye by a Canadian Prime Minister, opening a new chapter in the relationship between our two countries.

In Ankara, Prime Minister Carney met with the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to launch an ambitious Canada-Türkiye Strategic Partnership. Supported by a three-year action plan, this partnership will deepen cooperation in key areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and people-to-people ties.

On trade and investment, the leaders announced that the first round of negotiations toward a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) will take place from November 30 to December 4, 2026, in Ankara. Trade between Canada and Türkiye has grown by almost 50% since 2020, but this has only begun to realise the full potential of the relationship. An FTA will build on that momentum and open new doors for Canadian businesses.

To further unlock new opportunities for trade and investment, Export Development Canada and Türk Eximbank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on projects in third countries. The MOU will help Canadian and Turkish companies team up on projects in international markets across a range of sectors.

In Istanbul, Prime Minister Carney met with Turkish business leaders and investors to build on this momentum and further catalyse investment in Canada's energy, mining, aerospace, and defence industries. To seize these opportunities, the Prime Minister announced a Canadian trade mission to Türkiye in 2027, to be led by the Minister of International Trade.

As NATO Allies, Canada and Türkiye deepened collaboration in defence, announcing a new MOU on defence sector partnerships. This agreement will connect Canadian and Turkish companies so they can build together, creating good jobs at home, export opportunities abroad, greater security for Canadians, and a stronger NATO Alliance.

On energy, Canada and Türkiye signed a joint statement to strengthen cooperation in LNG, civil nuclear and renewable energy, and critical minerals. This will facilitate investment in major energy and resource projects, strengthen supply chains, and build greater energy security and economic resilience in both countries.

Beyond trade, energy, and defence, the Strategic Partnership will also deepen people-to-people ties between Canada and Türkiye. To that end, the two countries signed the recently expanded Air Transport Agreement, which increases weekly passenger flights from 12 to up to 21 and allows unlimited cargo flights between Canadian and Turkish airports. This agreement will make travel easier and more affordable for families visiting loved ones, for students, and for tourists. It will also create new opportunities for Canadian exporters to Türkiye and the markets beyond.

At this pivotal moment, Canada and Türkiye are launching a broader, deeper partnership – opening new markets, strengthening our defence industries, powering our economies, and bringing our people closer together. Together, we are building a more secure, resilient, and prosperous future.

Quote

"In a rapidly changing world, Canada is diversifying our trade and building stronger partnerships to create greater security and prosperity for Canadians. Türkiye, a NATO Ally, a G20 economy, and a gateway to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, is an essential partner in that work. Our new Strategic Partnership will open new markets for Canadian businesses, connect our defence industries, and strengthen our energy security, creating good jobs for Canadian workers. This is a new chapter in our partnership, and we are only beginning to realise its potential."

-- The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick facts

• Prime Minister Carney was accompanied on this visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, and the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson.
• This visit builds on earlier engagements undertaken this past year to advance cooperation between Canada and Türkiye, including on trade and defence:
• In July 2026, on the margins of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Prime Minister Carney and President Erdoğan announced the launch of negotiations toward a comprehensive Canada-Türkiye FTA. Public consultations in Canada on this agreement concluded last month.
• In July 2026, the two countries also signed a Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation. This arrangement establishes a framework to expand collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including military-to-military dialogue, operational support, and defence industrial collaboration.
• Canada and Türkiye will continue to deepen their cooperation on climate-related priorities, including electrification and methane emissions reduction, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which Türkiye will host in Antalya next month. Prime Minister Carney expressed Canada's full support for Türkiye's COP31 Presidency. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Aviva Dabrusin, will represent Canada at the conference.
• Canada and Türkiye are NATO Allies with longstanding diplomatic relations dating back to 1944. Both countries work closely together on today's most pressing global challenges through a number of multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the G20, the International Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
• The expanded Canada-Türkiye Air Transport Agreement allows unlimited access to all points in each country, up to 21 weekly passenger-combination flights per country, and unlimited weekly all-cargo flights.
• Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Türkiye reached $4.3 billion in 2025, including $1.1 billion in Canadian exports and $3.2 billion in imports from Türkiye.

Related products

• Statement by Prime Minister Carney and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
• Prime Minister Carney meets with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Associated link

• Canada-Türkiye relations

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SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

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