Mark Carney heads to Ankara to redraw Canada’s trade map

The two leaders intend to elevate their diplomatic status to a strategic partnership, focusing on defense, energy, and infrastructure investment. Ankara is actively courting foreign capital for its nuclear power sector, mining industry, and military hardware development, areas where Canadian firms are eager to expand their footprint. While trade between the nations currently represents less than 0.3% of Canada’s global volume, the shift reflects a broader strategy to diversify exports beyond the United States, which still absorbs nearly 70% of Canadian output.

Carney’s visit underscores a pragmatic departure from traditional diplomatic priorities, favoring economic alignment over the social tensions that have historically complicated Turkish-Western relations. Having already secured over 20 trade agreements last year, the Prime Minister is positioning Canada as a reliable alternative to the volatility of US-led trade policy. By integrating Turkey into frameworks like the Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank, Ottawa is betting that deeper industrial ties will provide the necessary buffer against the ongoing tariff disputes with the Trump administration.