Canada Signs Turkey Pact as Carney Cites 50% Nuclear Deal Odds

Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a strategic partnership with Turkey on Friday, a move designed to reduce Canada's reliance on the U.S. market while navigating persistent human rights criticisms from Ankara. The agreement was finalized after a visit to the country, where Carney sought to balance trade expansion with his administration's stated values.

Carney defended the government's position by characterizing the approach as values-based realism. He argued that few nations match Canada's standards and that engaging with partners does not imply approval of their domestic policies. "Engagement in those partnerships does not mean approval," Carney said. "There are very few countries in this world that have the standards of Canada."

A key economic driver for the deal is the potential sale of Canadian nuclear technology to Turkey. Carney stated there are now good chances that AtkinsRealis, a Canadian engineering firm, will be selected to help build two power plants in Turkey. This move aligns with the government's broader goal to diversify trading partners beyond Europe and the Indo-Pacific, a strategy that has recently included deals with other nations with varying rights records.

Human rights groups have intensified their criticism of the Turkish government under President Recep Erdogan this month. They point to recent operations that authorities claim targeted opposition voices and independent journalism. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand raised these concerns with her Turkish counterpart on Thursday. Carney said he also spoke directly with Erdogan, noting that direct conversations are often more effective when not reported in detail.

The signing occurred against a backdrop of diplomatic friction between Ottawa and Washington. On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet accusing Canadian leaders of interfering in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections scheduled for Nov. 3. Carney dismissed the allegations on Friday, stating there is no merit to the claims. He expressed disappointment that the U.S. envoy viewed it as his role to make such suggestions, emphasizing that Canada remains careful to avoid appearing to interfere in American democratic processes.