Canada and Turkiye launch three-year strategic partnership
The plan covers trade, defence, energy and ties between people, with free-trade negotiations scheduled to begin in November.
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The plan covers trade, defence, energy and ties between people, with free-trade negotiations scheduled to begin in November.
Canada and Turkiye launched a strategic partnership on 22 October, backed by a three-year action plan covering trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and ties between people. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also announced an intention to approximately double direct flights between the countries, DW reported.
The announcement came during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s two-day visit to Turkiye. Al Jazeera reported that Carney is seeking to diversify Canada’s partnerships and reduce reliance on the United States amid a trade dispute involving US tariffs on Canadian goods and Canadian retaliatory measures.
Speaking alongside Carney in Ankara on 22 October, Erdogan said the countries would approximately double direct flights, according to DW. This was a commitment to a future increase, not an announcement that additional flights had begun. The announcement did not specify routes, the current number of flights, a start date or an operating agreement.
According to the leaders’ joint statement, the countries plan to expand trade and investment in energy supply, defence production, aerospace and artificial intelligence. These are priorities for future cooperation, not announcements of investment already delivered.
On defence and security, the leaders stated their intention to deepen cooperation between the two countries and through wider international groups. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation supporting peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond, including Ukraine, the South Caucasus and the Middle East, particularly Gaza.
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The leaders committed to working toward a free-trade agreement, rather than announcing a completed treaty. Speaking alongside Carney in Ankara, Erdogan said he hoped to increase bilateral trade from around $3 billion to $5 billion initially and then $10 billion. The higher figures are targets, not growth already achieved.
| Stage | Trade volume |
|---|---|
| Current level | Around $3 billion |
| Initial target | $5 billion |
| Later target | $10 billion |
Erdogan said the two sides had agreed to begin free-trade negotiations before the end of 2026. The joint statement schedules the first round for November 2026 in Ankara, where the countries will begin negotiating the agreement they have committed to pursue.
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