ANKARA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is forming a “strategic partnership” with Turkiye aimed at securing a free-trade agreement. Carney arrived in Ankara overnight for the first official bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Turkiye. In a joint statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two leaders said they’re also looking to ratify an “air transportation agreement” which could lead to more direct flights. The agreement also commits to deeper people-to-people ties with Turkiye, something Carney also has sought with the European Union to offer more flexibility to tourists, workers and students. The statement said Canada and Turkiye have shared values, including “human rights, individual liberties, democracy and the rule of law.” The Erdogan government is under heavy scrutiny internationally right now over reports of official persecution of LGBTQ+ organizers in the country. Craig Lord, The Canadian Press
