Türkiye and Canada have launched a strategic partnership aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment, strengthening defense and security cooperation, and advancing collaboration in energy, technology and climate action.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the Türkiye-Canada Strategic Partnership during Carney's official visit to Türkiye, according to a joint statement released by the two leaders.

The partnership comes amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and evolving security and humanitarian challenges, with both NATO allies seeking to deepen cooperation based on 83 years of diplomatic relations.

The two countries also adopted a three-year action plan built around four pillars: trade, investment and innovation; energy and climate cooperation; defense and security; and government-to-government dialogue and people-to-people ties.

The leaders said the initiative would strengthen political dialogue, support economic growth and trade, accelerate technological development and advance shared security objectives.

Under the trade and investment pillar, the two countries agreed to work toward successfully concluding a Türkiye-Canada Free Trade Agreement and expanding commercial ties in priority sectors, including energy, defense production, aerospace and artificial intelligence.

They also committed to ratifying the Türkiye-Canada Air Transport Agreement, strengthening cooperation between trade and export agencies, and promoting joint business opportunities in third countries.

The leaders further agreed to encourage collaboration between their innovation ecosystems to support technological development and economic growth.

Türkiye and Canada will significantly expand cooperation across the energy sector, including liquefied natural gas, civilian nuclear energy, renewable energy, clean technologies and the resilience of critical energy infrastructure.

The partnership also envisages greater investment, dialogue between nuclear-sector stakeholders and closer cooperation on sustainable mining and critical mineral supply chains.

Both countries pledged to strengthen collaboration on climate resilience, environmental protection and clean technologies.

The leaders welcomed a joint statement on Türkiye-Canada energy cooperation agreed upon by their respective energy and natural resources ministers.

Canada also welcomed Türkiye's role as host and president of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya from Nov. 9 to 20, 2026. Ottawa expressed its readiness to work closely with Ankara to ensure a successful conference.

The two NATO allies reaffirmed their intention to deepen bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation, including within NATO, building on a recently signed Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation.

They agreed to strengthen joint efforts to support peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond, with particular attention to Ukraine, the South Caucasus and the Middle East, including Gaza.

The leaders welcomed the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding on defense-sector partnerships between Türkiye's Secretariat of Defence Industries and Global Affairs Canada. The agreement is intended to facilitate stronger partnerships between the two countries' defense industries.

They also welcomed ongoing discussions on expanding cooperation in key areas of mutual interest.

In addition, Erdoğan and Carney underscored the importance of launching a dialogue on strengthening cooperation in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition.

Under the fourth pillar, Türkiye and Canada agreed to establish an annual strategic dialogue to strengthen political coordination and oversee progress on shared priorities.

They also pledged to continue annual meetings of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee, alongside political-military and counterterrorism consultations.

Further areas of cooperation include consular affairs, migration, travel and mobility, cultural exchanges and engagement with diaspora communities.

The leaders tasked their foreign ministers with overseeing implementation of the three-year action plan, with the aim of deepening bilateral ties, promoting international security and building prosperous, environmentally sustainable economies.

Carney expressed appreciation for Türkiye's warm hospitality during his visit, which the joint statement described as the first visit by a head of government between the two countries.

Türkiye welcomed an invitation for Erdoğan to visit Canada at a mutually convenient time.

The new strategic partnership is intended to build on decades of diplomatic relations while creating additional opportunities for economic cooperation, defense industry collaboration and coordination on international challenges. (ILKHA)