Ottawa Signs Ankara Pact as Carney Sees Nuclear Deal Possibility

Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a strategic partnership with Turkey on Friday, a move that formalizes economic ties while Ottawa navigates human rights concerns.

Carney concluded a two day visit to the country by agreeing to the pact with the government of President Recep Erdogan. Human rights groups have long criticized Ankara for its policies. Those complaints intensified this month after Turkish authorities conducted operations that critics said targeted opposition figures, independent journalists, and marginalized communities.

Carney described his administration's foreign policy stance as values based realism. He stated that few nations meet Canadian standards, adding that engagement in such partnerships does not imply approval of every action. The Prime Minister's Office noted that Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand discussed human rights matters with her Turkish counterpart on Thursday. When asked if he personally raised the issues with Erdogan, Carney said he prefers direct and open conversations that are not always reported in detail, confirming that these topics were raised.

The agreement supports Carney's goal to reduce Canada's reliance on the United States market. While previous efforts focused on Europe and the Indo Pacific, the government has also engaged with other partners with mixed human rights records, such as Saudi Arabia. After political discussions in Ankara, Carney met with business leaders in Istanbul. A key point of discussion was the potential sale of Canadian nuclear technology to help Turkey meet its climate objectives. Carney told reporters there are now good chances that the engineering firm AtkinsRealis will be selected as a partner to build two planned power plants.

Carney also addressed accusations that Canada interfered in upcoming U.S. elections. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet on Thursday formally alleging meddling ahead of the November 3 vote. The prime minister dismissed the claims as having no merit, expressing disappointment that the U.S. envoy viewed such suggestions as part of his role. He emphasized that Canada maintains a deep diplomatic presence in the U.S. and exercises careful oversight to avoid the appearance of interfering in the democratic process.

The next scheduled step involves continued negotiations with Turkish business leaders to finalize terms for the nuclear project and other trade initiatives.