Canada and Turkey are poised to sign a joint declaration aimed at significantly enhancing bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including defense and energy, during Prime Minister Mark Carney's upcoming visit to Ankara.
The declaration, expected to be formalized later this week, will also target economic relations, with a focus on advancing free trade discussions and strengthening social and diplomatic ties between the two NATO allies. The initiative includes the establishment of dedicated committees tasked with developing concrete action plans for each area of cooperation.
Prime Minister Carney's visit marks a historic moment as the first dedicated bilateral trip by a Canadian prime minister to Turkey. He is scheduled to hold discussions with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, followed by meetings with Turkish business leaders in Istanbul on Friday. This visit underscores Canada's strategic effort to diversify its international partnerships and reduce trade reliance on the United States, particularly amid ongoing trade disputes and strained relations with Washington.
Energy is anticipated to be a central theme, with discussions potentially including Turkey's interest in acquiring liquefied natural gas from Canada and sourcing critical minerals. Furthermore, a working group is likely to be formed to assess the feasibility of a proposal by Canada's CANDU, a subsidiary of AtkinsRealis, to construct a planned nuclear power plant on Turkey's Black Sea coast. Turkey is actively exploring options for its second and third nuclear power plants, engaging with various international firms.
In the defense sector, the focus is expected to be on collaboration concerning drones and naval capabilities. Canada's removal of weapons-export controls on Turkey in 2024, which included restrictions on optical technology vital for drone manufacturing, is seen as a facilitator for closer defense cooperation. Meetings are also planned with executives from prominent Canadian companies involved in defense and energy sectors, such as Calik Holding and Sabanci Holding.
While analysts suggest that current geopolitical dynamics, including U.S. policies towards Canada, may present opportunities for enhanced cooperation in areas like ammunition production, drones, and naval systems, they caution that significant agreements are unlikely to be finalized in the immediate short term.
