Politics · Canada · 1 hr ago
Canada and Turkey plan pledge to expand defence and energy ties
Canada and Turkey are preparing a pledge to deepen defence and energy ties during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Ankara.
Carney’s four-day trip is the first bilateral visit to Turkey by a Canadian prime minister.
Canada is looking to reduce its reliance on trade with the United States by building relationships with other countries.
The two sides have discussed defence industries, critical minerals, liquefied natural gas and nuclear power, including Canada’s CANDU reactors.
Turkey plans to add 20 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2050, and Canada hopes to sell reactors and support mining projects.
The closer ties come amid concerns about Turkey’s treatment of dissent and LGBTQ groups, as well as its takeover of an opposition-linked media outlet.
The pledge is expected to be signed during the visit, though the available details do not say what commitments it will contain.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is due to visit Turkey this week as Canada and Turkey aim to expand defence and energy ties.
The four-day trip is the first bilateral visit to Turkey by a Canadian prime minister.
Canada hopes to sell CANDU nuclear reactors, supply critical minerals and export liquefied natural gas to Turkey.
Possible areas of defence co-operation include drones, aerospace, naval systems, shipbuilding parts, munitions and vehicles.
The visit comes as Turkey faces criticism over actions against LGBTQ groups, opposition media and dissenting voices.
- Who
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
- What
- Canada and Turkey aim to deepen relations, including in defence and energy. The headline says they plan to sign a pledge, but the article text gives no details of it.
- When
- Carney is due to depart Wednesday for a four-day trip. The article was published October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Ankara, Turkey.
- Why
- Canada is seeking to reduce its trade reliance on the United States and expand economic and defence co-operation with Turkey.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Turkish police raided LGBTQ and HIV advocacy groups, bars and activists’ homes in five cities and detained dozens.
Turkish police raided Halk TV’s Istanbul headquarters, and a government-appointed trustee took over the channel.
Carney is due to depart for Ankara for a four-day visit.
- Visit length
- Four days
- First
- First bilateral visit to Turkey by a Canadian prime minister
- Turkey’s population
- 87 million
- Nuclear power target
- Turkey plans to add 20 gigawatts by 2050
- Possible Canadian export
- CANDU nuclear reactors, critical minerals and liquefied natural gas
- Turkey’s arms-export ranking
- 11th largest for 2021–2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
4 sources
Carney to sign agreements with Turkey deepening co-operation in energy, defence, officials say
Canada, Turkiye set to sign pledge during Carney visit to deepen defence, energy ties, Reuters source says
Canada, Turkey to agree during Carney visit to deepen defence and energy ties, source says
What people are saying
The sky is the limit
I’m not sure where the values fit in that.
We know and understand well that Erdogan is not governing democratically. Turkey is now, at best, a competitive autocracy.
just the latest amongst a series of ongoing attacks, not just on the rights of LGBTQI people, but also on dissenting voices