Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is not overly concerned about pursuing closer ties with Turkey despite criticism of how Turkey treats LGBTQ2S+ people. Multiple outlets report that Carney addresses the tension by linking engagement with “issues” raised directly in talks, while emphasizing that working with Turkey does not equal approval of its policies.
According to the coverage, Carney makes these remarks during his first bilateral visit to Turkey by a Canadian leader. Reuters-linked reporting adds that Carney’s team raised LGBTQ+ rights concerns in meetings held with the Turkish government, and that Canada and Turkey agree to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership after discussions with President Tayyip Erdogan.
Outlets vary mainly in what they foreground: some lead with Carney’s reassurance that Canada is not worried about deeper ties, while others stress his defense of human-rights engagement and the broader rationale for diversifying trade outside Turkey. The core factual elements—Carney’s comments on LGBTQ+ concerns and the aim of closer Canada–Turkey cooperation—are consistent across sources.
