Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: 3 Historic Talks Launched in Ankara with Erdoğan and Zelenskyy

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has kicked off a series of landmark bilateral meetings in Ankara, Türkiye, as the highly anticipated 36th NATO leaders’ summit officially gets underway. This high-profile diplomatic visit, which marks the first trip by a Canadian premier to Türkiye in 11 years, has immediately catalyzed crucial strategic discussions on global defense spending, bilateral trade, and long-term military assistance for Ukraine.

This historic diplomatic tour, representing a massive shift in Canada’s active global engagement, sees Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney engaging in high-stakes negotiations on the margins of the NATO summit.

1. Free-Trade Deal Talks and Strengthening Defense Industries

During a closed-door meeting at the presidential complex, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially announced the launch of negotiations toward a Canada-Türkiye Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This bilateral agreement is projected to significantly expand trade pathways, building upon a mutual trade volume that reached $4.3 billion in 2025.

The two leaders emphasized their commitment to deepening partnerships in critical areas, including energy, aerospace, advanced technologies, and critical minerals. Over the next few months, technical teams from Ottawa and Ankara will define the exact scope and ambition of the deal to prepare for the first formal round of negotiations.

“We welcome the launch of negotiations toward a Canada-Türkiye comprehensive free trade agreement, which will unlock significant opportunities for businesses, workers, and investors in both countries.”
— Joint Official Statement from Canada and Türkiye

In addition to trade, the leaders discussed expanding defense industrial production, which remains a key objective of the 36th NATO summit. The move marks a noticeable shift in bilateral relations, which had previously faced obstacles due to export restrictions on optical equipment and defense components.

2. Direct Coordination With President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

A highly anticipated meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled on the margins of the summit to coordinate urgent military and logistical aid. Zelenskyy, who was welcomed in Ankara by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, is actively seeking to secure advanced air defense systems and new drone supply contracts from NATO allies.

The bilateral discussion is expected to focus on maintaining a unified transatlantic response against Russian aggression and exploring sustainable pathways for peace. Prime Minister Carney welcomed President Erdoğan’s persistent diplomatic initiatives on Ukraine, including his efforts to facilitate dialogue, humanitarian engagements, and critical prisoner exchanges.

With Canada recently naming a German and Norwegian consortium as the preferred bidder for its new Royal Canadian Navy submarine fleet, Ottawa is actively demonstrating its renewed commitment to global maritime security. These defensive investments have bolstered Canada’s standing at the summit, allowing the nation to lead discussions on collective deterrence and alliance unity.

3. Promoting the Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank

Another central pillar of the Canadian diplomatic agenda is the promotion of the newly proposed Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank (DSRB). During the Ankara sessions, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney strongly advocated for the financial institution’s potential to strengthen Allied defense industrial capacity.

President Erdoğan expressed interest in the initiative proposed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, highlighting how a specialized multinational bank could assist member states in financing massive, long-term military infrastructure. The DSRB is designed to provide stable liquidity for defense-related research, joint hardware manufacturing, and supply chain resilience programs across the alliance.

By securing support from major NATO allies like Türkiye, Germany, and Norway, Canada aims to accelerate the establishment of the bank to counter modern global threats. The collaborative effort comes at a vital moment when European nations are under intense pressure to increase their defense spending budgets.

4. Reasserting NATO’s Transatlantic Bond and European Defense

As the summit progresses, the leaders also addressed the broader strategic architecture of Europe, stressing that any new security initiatives must complement existing transatlantic structures. President Erdoğan reiterated Ankara’s support for strengthening NATO’s European pillar but emphasized that these efforts must never replace the vital transatlantic bond.

The discussions concluded with both leaders agreeing that non-EU allies should be fully integrated into the European Union’s defense initiatives to maintain cohesive deterrence. By leading these complex efforts, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has successfully positioned Canada as a central player in mediating European defense priorities.

As the two-day summit in Ankara continues, the decisions made by the allied leaders will likely shape security architectures, defense spending protocols, and global alliances for decades to come.

Bilateral Focus Areas: Canada and Allied Nations at the Summit

The table below outlines the primary strategic priorities and bilateral milestones discussed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the initial phases of the Ankara summit:

Allied Nation / Leader	Primary Bilateral Objective	Key Strategic Focus	Current Status / Agreement
Türkiye (Pres. Erdoğan)	Trade Expansion & Security	Launching Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and DSRB implementation.	Official negotiations launched; trade goal set beyond the $4.3B recorded in 2025.
Ukraine (Pres. Zelenskyy)	Military Assistance	Securing advanced air defense systems, drone deliveries, and maritime security support.	Scheduled bilateral talks; coordination on peace frameworks.
Norway & Germany	Defense Procurement	Fleet modernization with German-Norwegian submarine consortium preferred bidding status.	Procurement plans finalized to reinforce the Royal Canadian Navy.

These bilateral alignments demonstrate Canada’s proactive approach to addressing both economic growth and collective military readiness in an increasingly complex global landscape.