Canada's Carney gets red-carpet welcome in Ankara on first bilateral visit to Türkiye

Prime Minister Mark Carney, making the first bilateral visit to Türkiye by a Canadian prime minister, was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with an official ceremony in Ankara, as the two countries prepare to raise ties to a strategic partnership.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday, in the first bilateral visit to Türkiye by a Canadian prime minister.

Erdoğan and Carney shake hands at the Presidential Complex in Ankara

Carney, who is in Türkiye on Oct. 22-23 at Erdoğan's invitation, began his program by visiting Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, where he laid a wreath. At the Presidential Complex, the national anthems of both countries were played and a 21-gun salute was fired. Carney greeted the guard of honor in Turkish with "Merhaba asker" (Hello, soldiers), and the two leaders introduced their delegations to each other.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın, Defense Industry Agency head Haluk Görgün and Türkiye's ambassador in Ottawa, Can Dizdar, attended the ceremony. Erdoğan and Carney then held a one-on-one meeting, to be followed by talks between the delegations, a joint news conference and a signing ceremony.

Erdoğan and Carney during their one-on-one meeting

Carney said he was in Ankara to take the partnership between Canada and Türkiye to the next level, expand access to a market of more than 85 million people and create new opportunities for workers and businesses in both countries.

Turkish Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said relations are set to be elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. According to Reuters, the leaders are expected to sign a declaration deepening cooperation in four areas, including defense and energy. Carney is expected to travel to Istanbul after Ankara.

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