ANKARA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney called Türkiye an “exceptional partner” during joint statements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday, the latest move in a warming of relations between the two NATO allies. Carney said negotiators from both countries will meet in Ankara next month for the first round of free trade talks. The federal government has not yet released the results of consultations with Canadians on the possibility of a free trade deal, which wrapped up last month. Carney and Erdogan also announced the Canada-Türkiye Strategic Partnership, which the prime minister said involves a three-year action plan, and is focused on the goals his office laid out for the trip: trade and investment, defence and security, energy and people to people ties. Carney said both countries’ foreign ministers will meet on an annual basis for a dialogue to “keep this partnership on track.” The governments also finalized a previously announced air transport agreement, allowing weekly passenger flights between the two countries to increase from 12 to 21, with no limit on cargo-only flights. Erdogan and Carney last met in Ankara at the NATO summit in July, where they formally launched free trade deal talks and signed a defence framework. Carney’s trip aims to deepen ties as the government tries to lessen dependence on the United States.
