After reaching a bilateral agreement on transparency surrounding the usage of defense equipment, Canada is expected to resume exports of drone parts and other military hardware to Turkey. Two Turkish officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the deal on Friday. Turkey has reaffirmed its commitment to share information regarding the end-use of drone parts, including camera systems that were previously imported from Canada. While the officials did not provide further details, they indicated that the agreement could potentially lead to broader defense cooperation between the two countries.
Although the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry have refrained from commenting on the specifics of the deal, Turkey's ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO has opened up opportunities for improved defense relations with its US-led NATO allies. President Joe Biden has urged US congressional lawmakers to approve the sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey, following the Turkish parliament's approval of Sweden's entry into the NATO alliance.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey is awaiting approval from the US Congress for the sale of F-16 jets, along with equipment for modernizing its fleet. The purchase of 40 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 aircraft and 79 modernization kits has been sought by Turkey since 2021. Long-standing criticism has been directed towards several Western partners, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and France, for their refusal to provide missile-defense systems and critical equipment to Turkish companies that develop tanks, warplanes, drones, and helicopters.
The concerns raised by these countries primarily revolve around fears that the equipment may be utilized by Turkey in military operations against Kurdish militants seeking autonomy in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. In response to Canada's decision to halt the export of high-resolution cameras utilized in armed Turkish drones, Turkey initiated the development of its own camera systems.
However, Turkey continues to face sanctions from the US due to its acquisition of the advanced Russian S-400 missile-defense system. NATO members express concerns that the S-400 system could potentially gather intelligence on Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jets. Turkey was subsequently barred from participating in the F-35 program after refusing to relinquish the S-400 battery it purchased in 2019. As a result, Turkey has requested the US to sell them F-16 jets as compensation for being excluded from the F-35 program.
The resumption of drone exports, along with the potential for broader defense cooperation between Canada and Turkey, marks a significant development in their bilateral relations. Both countries continue to engage in constructive discussions to strengthen their economic, commercial, and defense ties. With the hope of resolving these issues, given their shared NATO membership, Canada and Turkey are determined to foster a cooperative relationship in the defense sector.