Canadian PM Carney Hosted by Erdogan in Historic Turkey Visit
New Delhi, October 23: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was welcomed in Turkey by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the country. The talks covered a wide range of sectors, from energy and trade to transport and defence.
In a message posted on X, Erdogan described Carney as a dear friend and said it gave him great pleasure to host him during a visit of historic significance. The post offered a glimpse into the warm tone of the bilateral engagement.
During the visit, the leaders agreed to upgrade relations between Turkey and Canada to a strategic partnership. Both countries plan to launch new initiatives in energy, trade, transport, and the defence industry. They also decided to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement before the end of the year to boost trade and investment flows.
Erdogan set ambitious goals for the economic relationship. Bilateral trade, which currently stands at about three billion dollars, is expected to climb first to five billion dollars and then to ten billion dollars. The two sides also explored joint investment opportunities in third markets, spanning Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, and the Far East.
The defence industry emerged as a notable area of cooperation. Erdogan pointed to the NATO summit held recently in Ankara as evidence of the value both nations place on defence partnerships. Several memorandums of understanding were signed to expand collaboration in this field.
Energy cooperation also received attention. A joint declaration between the energy ministries of the two countries highlighted substantial opportunities, including in nuclear energy.
The leaders further reviewed developments in Gaza, Ukraine, and the Gulf region. Erdogan said sanctions imposed by Canada and certain other partners against illegal settlements represent a proper step in curbing violations by the Israeli government. He voiced hope that Canada would keep this stance in order to help bring lasting peace and stability to the region.