Canada's Carney heads to Türkiye as Ottawa looks for partners beyond the US

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a three-day visit to Türkiye on Wednesday, the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister, with drones, naval systems, nuclear energy and a planned free trade agreement on the agenda.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a three-day visit to Türkiye on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in what his office describes as the first bilateral visit to the country by a Canadian prime minister. Carney is scheduled to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Thursday before holding talks with business leaders and investors in Istanbul on Friday.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson are expected to accompany him, Reuters reported. The trip is part of Carney's push to reduce Canada's trade dependence on the United States amid a trade war and strained relations with President Donald Trump.

Drones, naval systems and nuclear power

According to Reuters, defense talks are expected to focus on drones and naval cooperation. Canada lifted some arms export restrictions on Türkiye in 2024, including on optical technology used in Turkish drones. The two countries are also expected to sign a joint declaration covering defense, energy, the economy and diplomacy, though Canadian officials have not confirmed which documents will be signed.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said nuclear energy would be a priority during the visit. Türkiye is in talks with companies including Canada's AtkinsRéalis, which owns CANDU reactor technology, for its second and third nuclear power plants, and Ankara also hopes to discuss purchases of Canadian liquefied natural gas and critical minerals.

NATO leaders at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, July 2026

Trade pact in the works

Türkiye and Canada announced the launch of free trade agreement negotiations during the NATO summit in Ankara in July. Bilateral trade reached about $2.74 billion last year, according to figures compiled by Anadolu Agency, and the two sides aim to raise it to $7-8 billion in the short term if a deal is signed.

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