Minister Alparslan Bayraktar met with representatives of the Turkish community in Toronto, including the Union of International Democrats (UID), Yunus Emre Institute, and Maarif Foundation, emphasizing the start of a new period in Türkiye-Canada relations.
Renewed Focus on Strategic Partnerships
Addressing attendees, Minister Bayraktar noted, “We are entering a phase where a new chapter is opening in the relationship between Türkiye and Canada. Global geopolitical developments, especially those in North America, have underscored the need for diverse collaborations and alliances.”
Highlighting the ongoing global trade tensions, Bayraktar remarked, “This environment gives added significance to our bilateral relations. Canada is now also seeking new partnerships.”
Energy, Mining, and Defense at the Forefront
Expanding Areas of Collaboration
Bayraktar stressed the importance of efforts to make Türkiye energy independent and pointed out the key role Canada could play, stating, “Canada is among the leading countries in utilizing underground resources. Our cooperation in these sectors is increasingly important.”
He further added, “We prioritize elevating Türkiye-Canada relations to a higher level. There are many opportunities for joint projects in energy, mining, and defense industries. Integrating nuclear energy into our energy portfolio is a major agenda item during this visit.”
Business and Community Engagements
During his visit to Toronto, Minister Bayraktar attended an iftar event hosted by the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) and the Canada-Türkiye Business Reception organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and Turkish Airlines (THY). He highlighted ongoing Canadian investments in Türkiye and expressed his wish to see greater collaboration between Turkish and Canadian firms.
Regional Stability and National Strength
Discussing Middle Eastern tensions, Bayraktar commented, “It is difficult to predict how the process will unfold. Our hope is for stability to be achieved soon.” He also underlined that Iran remains both an important neighbor and energy supplier for Türkiye.
Bayraktar concluded by stressing the need for Türkiye to become stronger in all respects—economically, militarily, and politically—and called for unity around shared values to meet global challenges effectively.
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