After kicking off his first full day on the high-level diplomatic circuit in Ankara, Turkey, with back-to-back têtes-à-tête  with several key NATO allies on the margins of the annual meet-up, Prime Minister Mark Carney was set to meet with his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, before a second — and final — round of closed-door talks were slated to get underway later this morning.

According to his itinerary, in addition to attending a closed-door session of the North Atlantic Council, Carney is booked in for a mid-afternoon chat with Latvian president Edgars Rinkēvič, before heading to Jeddah to begin what his office notes will be the first visit to Saudi Arabia by a sitting prime minister in 26 years.

During a pre-meeting back-and-forth with reporters, Carney “defended the appointment of his principal secretary Tom Pitfield to the Senate,” and pointed out that Pitfield is “an entrepreneur and philanthropist with strong knowledge about technology,” Canadian Press reports.

“A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Carney selected these two appointments himself,” the wire service noted.

Back in Canada, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald will spend another day making the rounds at the Calgary Stampede, where he’ll team up with representatives of the Canadian Cattle Association and Canada Beef to share the details of what the advisory is billing as a “significant investment in Canada’s beef industry” that will “boost export opportunities, increase competitiveness and ensure Canadian beef continues to be renowned and even more highly sought across the globe.” (11:15 a.m. MDT)

Also hitting the hustings in Western Canada today: Justice Minister Sean Fraser, who will join members of the Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade, as well as “business community members,” for a closed-door conversation on “retail crime” that, as per the notice, will “focus on the impacts of crime, repeat victimization, and public safety concerns for businesses.” (9 a.m. PT)

IN THE CHAMBER

Both the House of Commons and the Senate have shut down for the summer, with regular parliamentary proceedings set to resume in September.

FRESH FROM iPOLITICS

HOT OFF THE WIRES

• Carney says NATO spending shift underway amid Trump pressure on allies
• Carney defends appointment of his principal secretary to Senate
• NATO looks to Saab to build up to 10 surveillance planes using Canadian jets
• Real work ‘begins now,’ says TKMS CEO after being named preferred sub bidder
• Liberals shut down debate over proposed probe into B.C. condo buyout plan
• Ottawa to invest up to $400 million in Teck critical minerals smelter in B.C.
• Gangster Bishnoi charged with ordering Nijjar hit in B.C.
• Bank of Canada ordered to stop using replacement workers during strike
• Rogers closes six radio stations including Sportsnet in Vancouver, Calgary
• Canada posts largest trade surplus in four years at $4.2B in May – iPolitics
• German aerospace company signs 10-year deal to use Nova Scotia rocket launch pad
• New Brunswick starts process to revive key mine producing key antimony mineral
• Safety board says it’s too soon to determine cause of Montreal-area train derailment
• Quebec actor Marc Messier, known for role in ‘Les Boys’ franchise, dies at 78
• Charges laid in fraud scheme targeting international students
• Niagara Falls, Ont., mayor apologizes for comments about Kashechewan evacuees
• B.C. may ‘use the courts’ to sue OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge shooting – iPolitics
• Growing B.C. wildfire closes Highway 1, more evacuation alerts issued
• Vancouver and Colombia bow out of World Cup, as Swiss get the last hurrah
• Canadian North Airlines cancels flights in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., due to wildfire

Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.