Carney Defends Expanded Türkiye Ties Amid Rights Concerns

Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Canada’s decision to deepen economic and defense ties with Turkey, saying his “values-based realism” means engagement with governments whose practices Canada may oppose is not approval of those practices. During his visit, he said he raised human rights concerns but emphasized Canada’s responsibility to protect rights at home while seeking export markets and strengthening Canadian sovereignty. The partnership with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan includes cooperation in areas such as energy and defense, and Canada is seeking to improve its chances of selling CANDU nuclear reactors to Turkey. Critics argue that closer ties risk legitimizing Erdoğan’s government amid concerns about Turkey’s treatment of LGBTQ people and broader democratic and civil-rights conditions.