Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have launched a new strategic partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in trade, energy, defence and security, marking a significant step in Canada’s effort to broaden its international relationships.

The agreement was announced in Ankara on October 22 during the first bilateral visit to Türkiye by a Canadian prime minister. The leaders established a three-year action plan to deepen economic ties and strengthen cooperation between the two NATO allies.

A key part of the initiative is the launch of negotiations toward a Canada–Türkiye free trade agreement. The countries also signed an expanded air transport agreement intended to improve connectivity, support tourism and make it easier for Canadian and Turkish businesses to operate internationally.

Energy and defence are other major priorities. The governments plan to explore cooperation in liquefied natural gas, civil nuclear energy, critical minerals, aerospace and defence manufacturing. Canada also announced plans for a trade mission to Türkiye in 2027.

The partnership comes as Ottawa seeks to diversify export markets and reduce its dependence on the United States. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Türkiye reached approximately C$4.3 billion in 2025, according to the Canadian government.

The next challenge will be turning the agreement into measurable results. Trade negotiations, business investment and implementation of the three-year plan will determine whether the partnership delivers new opportunities for Canadian exporters and workers.