Canada, Turkey Launch Strategic Partnership With New Three-Year Action Plan

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have officially kicked off a Strategic Partnership between their nations, anchored by a new three-year action plan. The move arrives during Carney's two-day trip to Turkiye, an effort to build fresh alliances as Canada attempts to lessen its reliance on the United States.

"In an increasingly complex global security environment, rising geopolitical uncertainties, and evolving humanitarian challenges, a strong and resilient Canada-Turkiye partnership is essential, providing a foundation to mitigate shared threats and capitalise on new opportunities," the joint statement read Thursday.

The plan rests on four main pillars: trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and people-to-people ties. On commerce, both leaders agreed to push for the successful conclusion of a Canada-Turkiye Free Trade Agreement. They also pledged to expand bilateral trade and investments in key sectors like energy supply, defence production, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.

Defence cooperation will deepen as well. The two sides underlined their intent to strengthen multilateral and bilateral efforts, specifically supporting peace in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond. That list includes Ukraine, the South Caucasus, the Middle East, and Gaza in particular. Meanwhile, energy ministers from both countries are set to discuss liquefied natural gas, nuclear power, and critical minerals.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara alongside Carney on Thursday, Erdogan said the two nations hope to boost their trade volume significantly. "We currently stand at around $3bn," he noted. "We aim to get it to $5bn initially and then to $10bn through the steps we will take." He added that free trade agreement negotiations would begin before year-end.

"Now, we are launching a new era between Turkiye and Canada," Erdogan said after overcoming what he called years of disconnect. Carney echoed this sentiment, stating relations would expand "for generations to come." His goal, he explained, is not self-sufficiency but collective resilience. That means building deeper partnerships with reliable partners who create opportunities for both sides.

Carney travels to Ankara next month for the first round of trade talks alongside Erdogan and other officials before heading to Istanbul for discussions with Turkish business groups. This marks his first bilateral visit as a Canadian prime minister, though he did travel there in July for the NATO summit.

The push toward diversification comes against a backdrop of escalating trade tensions with US President Donald Trump. Tariffs on Canadian goods have triggered retaliatory measures from Ottawa, while Trump has made statements questioning Canadian sovereignty. The new partnership seeks to navigate these turbulent waters by creating new pathways for growth and security.