Turkey and Canada launch strategic partnership

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara during the first official visit by a Canadian premier to Turkey.

The two NATO allies launched a strategic partnership and signed agreements on defence co-operation and energy.

Their three-year action plan covers trade, investment, defence, energy and people-to-people ties.

Turkey wants to secure energy and fuel imports, including from Canada, while both countries see scope to work together on areas such as liquefied natural gas and critical minerals.

Erdogan said they aim to raise trade from $3 billion to $10 billion, but gave no deadline.

The agreement comes as Canada seeks more international relationships amid tensions with the United States, while Turkey aims to broaden its foreign ties.

Carney is due to meet Turkish business leaders in Istanbul on Friday, and free-trade agreement talks are set to begin next month.

Human rights groups have also urged Carney to raise concerns with Erdogan about arrests of activists, journalists and opposition politicians.