Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday received Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney for talks in the capital Ankara. The closed-door meeting at the presidential complex came as a two-day NATO summit kicked off.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan and Carney discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global developments, Trkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement. During the meeting, Erdogan emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to strengthen cooperation between Trkiye and Canada in areas such as trade, security, the defense industry, and energy. He noted that leveraging cooperation potentials would benefit both nations.
Erdogan reiterated Ankara's support for fortifying NATO's European pillar but highlighted the necessity of maintaining the 'transatlantic bond.' He also advocated for the inclusion of non-EU allies in the European Union's defense initiatives, according to the statement. This visit marks the first time in 11 years that a Canadian premier has traveled to Trkiye.
At the summit, Carney is anticipated to further enhance Canada's contributions to the defense alliance, establish new partnerships, and bolster shared security efforts, including support for Ukraine. Carney expressed gratitude to Erdogan for hosting the summit.
The leaders underscored key NATO priorities, such as strengthening defense industrial capacity across the alliance, enhancing deterrence and collective defense efforts, and supporting Ukraine against Russia. Carney's office highlighted discussions on the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) and its potential to bolster the alliance's defense industrial capacity and resilience.
Expressing interest in deepening partnerships in defense, critical minerals, energy, and advanced technologies, including aerospace, the leaders welcomed the initiation of negotiations toward a Canada-Trkiye comprehensive free trade agreement. The statement noted that with bilateral trade between Canada and Trkiye projected to reach $4.3 billion in 2025, the agreement would unlock significant opportunities for businesses, workers, and investors in both countries.
The recent developments in the Middle East were also part of the discussions. Carney acknowledged Trkiye's diplomatic efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including facilitating dialogue, humanitarian engagement, and prisoner exchanges, as mentioned in the statement.