Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has insisted that expanding economic and defense ties with Turkey aligns with his foreign policy of 'values-based realism.'
What happened
Carney traveled to Turkey to discuss trade and bilateral cooperation, sparking concerns over Turkey's poor human rights track record under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Despite this, Carney maintained that engagement with Turkey does not legitimize Erdogan's government or undermine Canada's values.
The two leaders signed a 'three-year action plan' to expand trade, focusing on defense and energy, with the goal of increasing bilateral trade volume from $3 billion to $10 billion. They also announced plans to pursue a free trade deal and development projects in third-world countries.
However, human rights observers have expressed limited enthusiasm for expanding business with Turkey, citing concerns over the country's treatment of marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ2A+ community and opposition voices.
