Canada's Prime Minister Visits Turkey to Deepen Ties, Reduce US Reliance

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Turkey for a two-day visit aimed at establishing a new partnership and diversifying Canada's international alliances, signaling a move to lessen dependence on the United States.

This visit marks the first bilateral trip by a Canadian prime minister to Turkey. Carney is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials. He will also engage with Turkish business groups in Istanbul to foster deeper trade relations.

The prime minister has actively pursued diversification of partnerships as a response to an escalating trade dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump. This conflict has involved U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, Canadian retaliatory measures, and public questioning of Canadian sovereignty.

Canada's Ambassador to Turkey, Marcel Lebleu, stated that a primary objective of the visit is to "launch a strategic partnership through a joint declaration by the two leaders." Discussions are expected to cover collaboration in key sectors such as energy, nuclear power, sustainable mining, and the defense industry. The two nations will also initiate negotiations for a free-trade agreement.

Turkey is planning a second nuclear power plant on its Black Sea coast, in addition to a project currently underway with Russia on the Mediterranean coast.

Amid these diplomatic overtures, Amnesty International has urged Carney to address human rights concerns during his trip. The organization highlighted concerns over a crackdown on opposition figures, journalists, and activists, including LGBTQ rights defenders. They also pointed to the appointment of a government administrator for an opposition-aligned television station and the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges he denies.

"As the judiciary is increasingly used to silence dissent and suppress critical voices, a clear message emerges: speaking out can come at a heavy price," said Amnesty's Turkey director, Ruhat Sena Aksenir. "Canada must not treat human rights as secondary in the negotiations. Sustainable partnerships depend on accountability and respect for the rule of law."

In a sign of thawing relations, Canada lifted its ban on arms exports to Turkey in 2024. The ban had been imposed following Turkey's military actions in Syria and its support for Azerbaijan in the conflict with Armenia, which involved equipment with Canadian-made components.

According to a statement from Carney's office, bilateral trade between Turkey and Canada has seen a 50% increase over the past five years. Carney intends to highlight opportunities for further expansion in priority sectors including energy, aerospace, advanced technologies, and mining and critical minerals.