Canada and Turkey expected to sign cooperation declaration during Carney visit

Ankara, Turkey. NATO partners Canada and Turkey are expected to sign a declaration to expand bilateral cooperation during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit later this week, according to a person familiar with the plans. The initiative would cover four areas, including defence and energy.

Declaration would establish cooperation committees

The person said the declaration would also address economic relations, with the aim of moving bilateral free trade negotiations forward, alongside stronger social and diplomatic links. Committees would be formed for each area to develop action plans.

Carney is scheduled to hold talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday before meeting Turkish business leaders in Istanbul on Friday. He will become the first Canadian prime minister to visit Turkey on a dedicated bilateral trip.

The journey forms part of Carney’s push to make Canada less reliant on US trade and build stronger relationships with regional powers. It comes amid a damaging trade conflict with Washington and increasingly hostile relations with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly challenged Canadian sovereignty.

Trade and investment on the agenda

Canadian officials at a government briefing on Tuesday would not confirm which declarations, agreements or deals could be signed during the visit.

A Canadian government official said Carney’s discussions with Erdogan would seek closer cooperation on trade, investment, energy, defence, security and ties between their populations.

The official said Friday’s business meetings were intended to strengthen two-way trade and investment and create opportunities for commercial cooperation. Ottawa’s principal sectors of interest in Turkey were aerospace, defence, energy, mining, high-tech and agriculture, the official added.

Neither Turkey’s presidency nor its Foreign Ministry responded to requests for comment.

Nuclear power and potential gas purchases

Speaking to broadcaster Kanal 7 on Sunday, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said energy, particularly nuclear power, would feature prominently in the visit’s agenda.

According to the person familiar with the plans, Ankara also expects discussions about possible Turkish purchases of Canadian liquefied natural gas and about critical minerals.

The person said a working group was expected to examine the feasibility of a bid from Canada’s CANDU to construct a planned nuclear power plant along Turkey’s Black Sea coastline.