Carney heads to NATO Summit, then Saudi Arabia, with defence, trade and new partnerships on Canada’s agenda
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Ankara, Türkiye, from July 6 to 8, 2026, to attend the NATO Summit, before heading to Saudi Arabia from July 8 to 10 for a bilateral visit focused on defence, trade, technology and investment. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the trip comes as Canada seeks to strengthen its defence independence and expand strategic partnerships in what the government described as a more dangerous and divided world.
At the NATO Summit, Carney is expected to emphasize Canada’s role within the alliance, deepen cooperation with allies, and support shared security priorities, including the defence of Ukraine. The Prime Minister’s Office said Canada has reached NATO’s 2% defence spending target and is on track to meet the alliance’s 5% target by 2035. Canada has also become the first non-European member of the European Union’s Security Action for Europe initiative, known as SAFE.
After the NATO meetings, Carney will travel to Saudi Arabia, where he is scheduled to meet Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The visit will be the first by a Canadian prime minister to Saudi Arabia in 26 years, marking a notable diplomatic moment in relations between Ottawa and Riyadh after years of tension and cautious engagement.
The Saudi visit will focus on deepening cooperation between Canada and Saudi Arabia across energy, critical minerals, defence, infrastructure and investment. The Prime Minister’s Office said the talks will also aim to expand trade and two-way investment in key sectors including mining, artificial intelligence, clean technology, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and life sciences.
The trip carries both political and economic significance for Canada. On the security side, it reflects Ottawa’s push to increase defence spending and strengthen ties with NATO allies. On the economic side, it signals a broader effort to diversify Canada’s global partnerships, especially in sectors linked to energy transition, technology, food security and infrastructure.
For Arab and Canadian communities, the Saudi leg of the trip is especially significant. It opens a new chapter in Canada-Saudi relations at a time when both countries are looking at trade, investment, technology and energy cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic frameworks.
Carney said, in remarks included in the Prime Minister’s Office statement, that Canada is “rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting” in the Canadian Armed Forces, adding that Canadian leadership is now defined not only by the strength of its values, but also by “the value of our strength.”
