Asked Whether Canada Wants Turkish Military Technology or an Industrial Partnership, Carney Says “Both”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gave a one-word answer in Ankara when a journalist asked whether Canada wants to buy Turkish military technology or build an industrial partnership: “Both.”
The Question
The journalist noted that Türkiye has a deeply rooted defence industry, especially in drones, and asked:
“Türkiye has a very well-established defence industry, especially when it comes to drones. Are we interested in buying military capability or Turkish military technology, or is this more of an industrial partnership?”
Carney’s reply was short: “Both.”
What the Answer Signals
The reported reply gives no detail on which systems Canada might buy or in which areas the two countries might co-produce. It does, however, point to both strands of the defence relationship Canada wants with Türkiye: possible direct purchases of Turkish systems and industrial partnership between companies on both sides.
That framing matches the Defence Sector Partnerships Memorandum of Understanding signed during the visit. Carney said the memorandum would bind Canadian and Turkish companies more closely together, while Türkiye’s ambassador to Ottawa, Can Dizdar, said cooperation could deepen in drones, aerospace, naval systems, shipbuilding parts, munitions and land vehicles. See our report on the Türkiye–Canada memorandum for details.
Background: From Export Ban to Partnership
Canada suspended military export permits to Türkiye in 2020 after claims that Canadian-made drone technology was used in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, and cancelled them in 2021. Ottawa lifted the restrictions in January 2024 and began reviewing applications case by case. Today the defence industry is one of the main pillars of a relationship that has been raised to the level of a strategic partnership.
