Carney Signs Turkey Deal With 50% Odds for Nuclear Plant

Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a strategic partnership agreement with the government of President Recep Erdogan in Ankara on Friday. The deal was concluded near the end of his visit to Turkey, a country that has faced sustained criticism from human rights groups for its domestic policies.

Carney used the signing ceremony to outline his government's foreign policy stance, which he has previously labeled values-based realism. He stated that this approach accepts that not every international partner will share all Canadian values. "Engagement in those partnerships does not mean approval," Carney told reporters. "There are very few countries in this world that have the standards of Canada."

Concerns about the Turkish government's authoritarian tendencies have complicated the trade relationship. Critics argue that recent high-profile operations by Turkish authorities aimed to silence opposition voices and restrict independent journalism. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand raised these human rights issues with her Turkish counterpart during meetings on Thursday. When asked if he personally discussed these concerns with Erdogan, Carney said he prefers direct, open conversations that are not reported in detail, confirming that the issues were raised.

The partnership is part of a broader effort to reduce Canada's reliance on the United States market. While previous diversification efforts focused on Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the government has also engaged with Saudi Arabia. Carney began a series of meetings with business leaders in Istanbul after his political talks in Ankara. One specific deal under discussion involves the sale of Canadian nuclear technology to help Turkey meet its climate goals.

Carney told reporters that there are now good chances for Canadian engineering firm AtkinsRealis to be selected as a partner for two planned power plants in Turkey. He described the odds of securing this contract as 50 percent, a figure that underscores the potential economic stakes of the new agreement.

On Friday, Carney also addressed claims that Canada interfered in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet on Thursday formally accusing Canadian leaders of meddling ahead of the Nov. 3 vote. Carney rejected the allegations, stating that there is no merit to the claims. He expressed disappointment that the U.S. envoy viewed it as his role to make such suggestions, noting that Canada maintains a deep diplomatic presence and is careful not to interfere in American democratic processes.