Türkiye, Canada agree to elevate ties to strategic partnership

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney review the guards of honor during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Trkiye, on Oct. 22, 2026. Trkiye and Canada agreed Thursday to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense during the first official visit to Trkiye by a Canadian prime minister. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

ANKARA, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Trkiye and Canada agreed Thursday to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense during the first official visit to Trkiye by a Canadian prime minister.

Following their talks in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the move at a joint press conference.

"We are elevating our relations with Canada to the level of a strategic partnership," Erdogan said, describing the move as the start of a new era in bilateral relations after years of limited engagement.

Carney also said the two countries were launching a strategic partnership.

Erdogan said the two sides had signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation and would seek to develop new projects in energy, transportation, trade and the defense industry.

The visit comes as Ottawa seeks to diversify its economic partnerships amid trade tensions with the United States.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Trkiye, on Oct. 22, 2026. Trkiye and Canada agreed Thursday to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense during the first official visit to Trkiye by a Canadian prime minister. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Trkiye, on Oct. 22, 2026. Trkiye and Canada agreed Thursday to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense during the first official visit to Trkiye by a Canadian prime minister. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)

Visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend a joint press conference in Ankara, Trkiye, on Oct. 22, 2026. Trkiye and Canada agreed Thursday to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense during the first official visit to Trkiye by a Canadian prime minister. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)