Canada-Türkiye defense trade resumes post-ban

Revoking its 2019 military export ban, Canada reopens military export channels to Türkiye

Canada has officially ended its ban on military exports to Türkiye, a policy change announced Monday. This move comes after more than three years of restrictions, which were initially imposed due to concerns about the misuse of Canadian military technology in foreign conflicts.

The ban was initially imposed in 2019 and intensified in 2020 in response to concerns about the diversion of Canadian military technology in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, with changing geopolitical dynamics and ongoing dialogues between NATO members, Canada’s Department of Global Affairs announced the reversal of the “presumptive denial policy” for military goods shipments to Türkiye.

This policy change is set against the backdrop of recent diplomatic efforts, particularly discussions involving Türkiye’s role in NATO, including its recent ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership. These diplomatic efforts have been seen as a positive step towards strengthening the alliance and addressing security concerns within the region.

Canada’s revised policy will include a case-by-case review of military exports, ensuring compliance with both national and international arms trade regulations. This approach aims to balance the strategic defense interests of NATO allies while maintaining a commitment to responsible arms trade practices.

Source: AFP