Mark Carney in Ankara: Turkey and Canada Upgrade Ties to Strategic Partnership

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is on an official visit to Turkey. According to Anadolu, a ceremony welcoming Carney was held at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, where he was greeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A 21-gun salute was fired in honour of the Canadian prime minister.

Carney posted footage of his arrival in Ankara on social media, saying: 'We are here to take our partnership to a new level.' He said Canada wants to expand access to the Turkish market and create new economic opportunities for workers and businesses in both countries. At a joint press conference, cited by CNN Türk, Erdoğan said bilateral trade, currently about $3 billion, is expected to rise first to $5 billion and then to $10 billion. An updated air transport agreement, he said, would roughly double direct flights between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to raise relations to a strategic partnership and adopted an action plan. Negotiations on a free trade agreement are to begin before the end of the year. The Joint Trade and Economic Committee will next meet in 2027 with private sector participation. Carney is expected to travel to Istanbul after his talks in Ankara.