15.29°C Vancouver

Sep 27, 2023 5:57 PM - The Canadian Press

Turkey senior diplomat 'disappointed' by Canada's ongoing arms-export embargo

Share On
turkey-senior-diplomat-disappointed-by-canadas-ongoing-arms-export-embargo
Canada halted new export permits to Turkey in October 2019 after its military incursion into Syria, and renewed the embargo in 2020 citing evidence Canadian drones sent to Turkey ended up being used by Azerbaijan.

Turkey's deputy minister of foreign affairs says Ankara still wants Canada to drop its arms embargo.

Ahmet Yildiz said in a keynote address Tuesday, during a forum organized by the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy think tank, that Canada's restrictions on exporting drones and other material to Turkey amount to sanctioning a military ally.

Yildiz said he's "disappointed" by the restrictions, arguing they curtail Turkey's efforts to secure the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, as well as to defend the interests of the NATO military alliance.

Canada halted new export permits to Turkey in October 2019 after its military incursion into Syria, and renewed the embargo in 2020 citing evidence Canadian drones sent to Turkey ended up being used by Azerbaijan.

At the NATO summit in July, media reports quoting unnamed Turkish officials claimed Canada reopened talks on the arms embargo.

The Canadian Press has not independently verified the reports, but Canada's former military envoy to Turkey has said Ottawa might lift its arms embargo if Ankara supports Sweden's bid to join NATO, and if it agrees to restrictions on where Canadian drones can be used.

Latest news

BCSep 23, 2026

B.C. Conservative Leader Slams Eby’s Early Election Call as ‘Opportunistic’

BC Conservative interim leader Lorne Doerksen has criticized David Eby’s decision to call an early provincial election, describing it as a “cheap and opportunistic” political move. Speaking to the media in Vancouver on Tuesday, Doerksen said the unnecessary election was neither requested by the public nor wanted by British Columbians. Party leader Peter Milobar and MLA Carolyn Elliott were also present at the news conference. The opposition group also criticized the BC NDP’s economic policies. Doerksen accused the NDP government of blaming external factors for its failures and weak eco
CanadaSep 23, 2026

Canada-India trade deal talks expected to conclude by November, Modi visit planned for December

Canada and India are expected to complete negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement by November, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to visit Canada in December, according to India’s High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Patnaik. Patnaik said the ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are expected to conclude by November, potentially paving the way for Prime Minister Mark Carney and Modi to sign the agreement in December. Carney has said Modi is expected to visit Canada around Dec. 14-15. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United N
AlbertaSep 22, 2026

Alberta Government Suspends Fuel Tax Until Year-End

The Alberta government is suspending the province’s fuel tax for the rest of the year. Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement Tuesday while addressing business leaders in Calgary. Smith said the average price of Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was $90.54 per barrel last month, triggering a full suspension of the 13-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax for the quarter beginning October 1. The province had previously suspended its fuel relief program during the last quarter. However, Smith said Albertans had told the government they would prefer to receive the savings directly at th
b-c-premier-david-eby-calls-early-provincial-election
BCSep 22, 2026

B.C. Premier David Eby Calls Early Provincial Election

B.C. Premier David Eby has formally called a provincial election after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia and requesting the dissolution of the legislature. The election is being held two years ahead of schedule. The next provincial election had originally been set for October 21, 2028. The announcement also cancels the Abbotsford-Mission byelection scheduled for September 26, as the riding will now be contested as part of the provincewide general election. The seat had been vacated by B.C. Conservative MLA Rian Gaspar to allow former party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in the
BCSep 22, 2026

B.C. MLA Brent Chapman Leaves Conservatives, Joins OneBC Party

Party-switching intensifies in B.C. as Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman leaves the B.C. Conservatives and joins the OneBC Party. Chapman, who is the husband of former B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, had been facing continued pressure within the party over controversial social media comments from his past. In a statement, Chapman said he had been a loyal party member for the past 15 years, but recent internal divisions, publicly exposed disagreements and what he described as a decline in the party’s principles had made it difficult for him to remain with the B.C. Conservatives. On

Related News