Canada and Türkiye unveil three-year action plan; Carney invites Erdoğan to Canada

Canada and Türkiye launched a three-year action plan under their new strategic partnership, covering trade, energy, defense and people-to-people ties, as Prime Minister Mark Carney invited President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to visit Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched a three-year action plan to carry out the new Canada-Türkiye Strategic Partnership, according to a joint statement released by Carney's office after their talks in Ankara on Thursday. The two NATO allies, marking 83 years of diplomatic relations, built the plan on four pillars.

On trade, investment and innovation, the leaders welcomed the launch of the first round of negotiations on a Canada-Türkiye free trade agreement and signed an expanded air transport agreement. They agreed to grow trade and investment in priority sectors including energy supply, defense production, aerospace and artificial intelligence, and to strengthen cooperation between Export Development Canada and Türk Eximbank in third-country markets. Carney announced a Canadian trade mission to Türkiye in 2027.

On energy and climate, the plan covers liquefied natural gas, civil nuclear energy, renewables, clean technologies and critical minerals. Canada also expressed readiness to work with Türkiye on its presidency of the COP31 climate conference, to be held in Antalya on Nov. 9-20.

Carney and Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara

On defense and security, the leaders welcomed a Defence Sector Partnerships memorandum between Global Affairs Canada and Türkiye's Secretariat of Defence Industries and agreed to strengthen cooperation for peace in Ukraine, the South Caucasus and the Middle East, particularly Gaza. They also agreed to open a dialogue on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition.

For government and people-to-people ties, the two countries will hold an annual Canada-Türkiye Strategic Dialogue, strengthen cooperation on consular issues and migration, explore ways to ease travel and mobility, and support cultural exchanges and engagement with their diaspora communities. Carney said he looks forward to welcoming Erdoğan to Canada for a state visit, and he was expected to meet leading Turkish business representatives during his visit.

Canada and Türkiye unveil three-year action plan; Carney invites Erdoğan to Canada