March 16, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that she will travel to Ankara, Türkiye and London, the United Kingdom, this week. During her travel she will advance bilateral relations, explore new opportunities for collaboration on shared priorities, and discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and their related impacts.

While in Ankara, Minister Anand will meet with Cevdet Yılmaz, Türkiye’s Vice President, Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology, and other senior government officials to forge stronger partnerships that deliver security and economic benefits for both countries and foster people to people ties. Minister Anand will build on recent discussions with Minister Fidan about the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to support de-escalation in the Middle East as well as ongoing efforts to ensure the facilitation of border crossings for Canadians departing Iran and broader regional security dynamics.

In London, Minister Anand will speak at the 2026 Chatham House Global Trade Conference, where she will underscore Canada’s trade diversification efforts to strengthen economic security and resilience. Minister Anand will meet with senior officials, including the Honourable Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to advance bilateral economic objectives and discuss key geopolitical priorities including the conflict in the Middle East as well as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.