Türkiye and Canada have embarked on a strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, defence, and diplomacy, as announced during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Ankara. This initiative marks a significant step in the relationship between the two NATO allies, building on 83 years of diplomatic ties.
The agreement between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Carney outlines a three-year action plan focusing on four primary areas: trade, investment and innovation; energy and climate cooperation; defence and security; and expanded government dialogue along with people-to-people relations. This collaboration aims to fortify economic connections, stimulate investment, and promote joint efforts in natural resources and emerging technologies.
Central to this partnership is the focus on defence cooperation. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries and Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, which will facilitate partnerships between their defence sectors and explore further areas of collaboration.
Both leaders have committed to promoting peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region, with a particular focus on areas such as Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East, including Gaza. To maintain ongoing dialogue, an annual Türkiye-Canada Strategic Dialogue will be established, along with continued meetings of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee, and political-military and counterterrorism consultations.
The partnership also extends to consular affairs, migration, mutual legal assistance, and extradition, with plans to foster cultural exchanges and strengthen ties between citizens and diaspora communities in both countries. The foreign ministers of Türkiye and Canada will oversee the implementation of the three-year roadmap to ensure tangible outcomes from these commitments.
This agreement underscores Türkiye and Canada’s shared ambition to deepen their economic and security ties, address international challenges, and create new opportunities for their businesses and citizens.