ISTANBUL — After three days spent fostering tighter economic and political ties with Turkiye, Prime Minister Mark Carney is on his way home to Ottawa. Carney closed out his trip earlier this morning by visiting one of Istanbul’s many great cultural landmarks, the Kariye Mosque, accompanied by his wife, Diana Fox Carney. The mosque was once a Byzantine church and is renowned for its historic architecture and its beautiful frescoes and mosaics. The structure itself has evolved through Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and modern Turkish history. A backgrounder document from the prime minister’s office said the site was chosen to underscore “Canada’s recognition of the importance of cultural heritage as a bridge between peoples and nations.” The solemnity of Carney’s visit gave way to an unexpected Canadian moment when a tourist visiting from Canada caught the prime minister on his way out of the mosque. “Go Oilers!” the man shouted, referring to Carney’s love of the Edmonton Oilers. The prime minister replied, “It looks good this year. Wait until the playoffs.” The tour marks the end of the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Turkiye. Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan forged a new strategic partnership between Canada and Turkiye after meeting in Ankara on Thursday. That agreement will see the two countries collaborate more closely in areas like defence and energy and set the stage for Canada and Turkiye to begin free-trade talks in the coming weeks. The trip to Turkiye came in the context of Carney’s broader efforts to diversify Canada’s trading relationships and reduce reliance on the United States. “Our goal is not self-sufficiency; it is collective resilience,” Carney said in a joint statement with Erdogan. “That’s why Canada is building deeper partnerships with reliable partners that create new opportunities for us both. And in Turkiye, we have an exceptional partner.” Erdogan called Carney a “dear friend” in his own remarks and signalled that he plans to lead a business delegation to Canada in the future. Canada and Turkiye have not always seen eye-to-eye. Human rights have previously been an irritant in the relationship, and Carney’s efforts to deepen ties with Turkiye come as the country faces international scrutiny over a crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. The prime minister told reporters that “engagement is not approval” when it comes to doing business with countries that don’t share Canada’s values. Canada raised human rights during its discussions with Turkish officials, Carney said, though he didn’t confirm whether he raised the topic directly with Erdogan. Carney met with a number of business leaders and investment firms in Istanbul, including representatives from Turkish Airlines. During the trip, Canadian and Turkish officials formalized an expanded air transportation agreement that could eventually nearly double the number of direct flights between the nations. Carney is expected to touch down in Ottawa early this evening. Craig Lord, The Canadian Press
