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Canadian Prime Minister Minister Mark Carney said Canada is open to both purchasing Turkish military capabilities and building defense industry partnerships, and that Ottawa could learn from Turkey's experience in the sector. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul during a visit to Turkey, Carney said the two NATO allies were discussing energy, trade and support for Ukraine.

Carney reported that Canadian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and Alison Nankivell, head of Export Development Canada, held talks with their Turkish counterparts the previous day, and said those meetings would continue and bring private sector representatives together.

Energy and investment talks

Carney described two main drivers behind the discussions: the scale of energy demand, whether in Turkey or elsewhere, and the desire to diversify energy supplies. He said clean, low-emission and zero-emission energy should sit at the centre of that process, adding that Turkey is making it one of the core elements of COP31.

He said Canada had made sweeping changes to taxation, the speed of investment decisions and investment agreements, and that Ottawa needed to explain what had shifted and what its priorities were, build relationships based on mutual benefit and work on broader cooperation. "Commercial decisions are ultimately made between businesses, but direct contacts sometimes reinforce the foundations of those relationships even further," Carney said.

Reactor talks and lessons on defense production

Asked about the status of discussions on Canada-developed CANDU reactors, Carney said negotiations with Turkey had intensified in the recent period and that the Turkish government could reach a decision toward the end of the year, possibly around the COP31 period.

Carney said Canada would keep applying the standards and rules it maintains for defense exports. "I believe roughly 80 percent of Turkey's defense needs are produced here. That is not the case in Canada. We have a lot to learn from Turkey about how to build such a defense industry in our country," he said.

He also pointed to advances in Turkish drone technology. "So there is an opportunity to form partnerships in order to defend Canada better," Carney said, adding that Canada was strengthening its economic performance and developing new partnerships, including with Turkey.

Open to both procurement and partnership

Asked whether Canada was interested in purchasing military capabilities or Turkish military technology, or whether the emphasis was on an industrial partnership, Carney replied: "Both, as much as possible. I think I would lean toward the partnership side, where we offer complementary technologies and progress together."

Carney cited the defense cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine as an example. "There is a genuinely effective partnership between Turkey and Ukraine, and Turkey is one of Ukraine's biggest supporters," he said. He added that Canada valued drawing on Turkish expertise as it strengthens its own defense capacity.

Coordination with Ukraine

Noting that both countries belong to NATO, Carney said support for Ukraine was among the topics he discussed with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He said Canada coordinates its assistance to Kyiv directly with the Ukrainian leadership rather than through the European Union. "We do not need the EU for such requests. We deal directly with Ukraine," he said.

Carney said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy several times over the past week, discussing Ukraine's defense situation and the Starlink issue. He added that Canada was continuing to coordinate its support for Ukraine with the EU and with Scandinavian countries.

Concern over reliance on a single provider

Addressing allegations that SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk ordered a reduction in the speed of the Starlink satellite system used by Ukraine to defend itself, Carney said it was clear that a slowdown had occurred in the system and that it had concrete, humanitarian consequences and direct loss of life, reducing Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian attacks.

Calling the matter worrying, he said: "As Canadians, we do not want to end up in a situation where we are dependent on a single service provider that could be pressured by a country that might change its mind or put Canadians at risk."

Relations with the United States

Asked about allegations that Canada interfered in the US midterm elections, Carney said Ottawa had no intention of interfering in the American democratic process. He said Canada was ready to negotiate a trade agreement with the United States that serves the interests of both sides. "If the US is there too, we would sign the agreement this afternoon. If it takes months or longer for a suitable agreement to enter into force, or if another administration has to come to office, we will do that too," he said.

Questioned on whether US President Donald Trump's remarks about annexing Canada came up in their meeting, Carney said Washington knows Canada's position clearly. "Canada's stance is absolutely clear. We will not be the 51st state. We are going our own way. We are preparing. We are strong and we are getting stronger," he said, adding that a strong Canada would be a better partner if the United States wants to work with Canada.

Key takeaways

• Mark Carney said Canada is open to buying Turkish military capabilities as well as defense industry partnerships, favouring cooperation on complementary technologies.
• He said Canada has much to learn from Turkey, where he believes about 80 percent of defense needs are produced domestically, and pointed to Turkish drone advances.
• Canada coordinates aid to Ukraine directly with Kyiv rather than through the EU, and Carney voiced concern over reliance on a single Starlink service provider.
• Carney rejected US annexation talk, saying Canada "will not be the 51st state," and said Ottawa is ready to sign a suitable trade deal.