Carney Defends Turkey Deal as U.S. Accuses Ottawa of Election Meddling

Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed formal accusations from Washington on Thursday that Canadian leaders are interfering in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. He stated there is no merit to the claims and expressed disappointment that the U.S. envoy considers it his role to make such suggestions.

Carney made the remarks near the end of his visit to Turkey. On Friday, he defended his government's balancing act between human rights concerns and trade interests. He argued that few nations match Canada's standards, asserting that engagement in partnerships does not equate to approval.

The visit concluded with the signing of a strategic partnership between Canada and the government of President Recep Erdogan. Human rights groups have long criticized the Turkish administration. Those complaints intensified this month after Turkish authorities conducted several high-profile operations. Critics say those actions aimed to silence opposition voices, suppress independent journalism, and restrict marginalized groups.

Carney has previously labeled Canada's foreign policy approach as values-based realism. This framework accepts that not every partner shares all Canadian values. He reiterated this position on Friday, noting that Canada maintains high standards that few other countries possess.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand raised human rights issues with her Turkish counterpart during meetings on Thursday. When asked if he personally addressed these concerns with Erdogan in their separate meeting, Carney declined to provide specifics. He stated that his approach involves direct, open conversations with leaders that are not reported in detail, confirming that the issues were raised.

The trade agreement fits into a wider strategy to reduce Canada's reliance on the U.S. market. Most recent diversification efforts have focused on Europe and the Indo-Pacific. However, Ottawa has also pursued deals with states with questionable human rights records, including Saudi Arabia.

After political discussions in Ankara on Thursday, Carney met with business leaders in Istanbul. One potential deal involves selling Canadian nuclear technology to help Turkey meet its climate goals. Carney said there are good chances that engineering firm AtkinsRealis will be selected as a partner to build two planned power plants in Turkey.

The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet on Thursday formally accusing Canadian leaders of election meddling ahead of the November 3 vote. Carney countered that Canada maintains a deep diplomatic presence and extensive contact with American companies and citizens. He emphasized that the country is very careful to avoid being seen as interfering in the U.S. democratic process.