The Bayraktar TB2 drone is pictured flying on Dec 16, 2019 at a military airbase near Famagusta in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Last October, Canada suspended the export license of key parts for Turkey's locally-built Bayraktar TB2, over claims that Canada's exported equipment for Turkish drones had been used by Azerbaijan against Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region last year. (BIROL BEBEK / AFP)
ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday urged his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau to review the defense industry embargo imposed on Turkey over claims that Canada's exported equipment for Turkish drones had been used by Azerbaijan against Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region last year.
In a phone conversation, Cavusoglu expressed "discomfort about Canada's stance on defense industry restrictions imposed on Turkey and requested their review," the Turkish foreign ministry said.
We expect our NATO allies (Canada) to avoid unconstructive steps that will negatively affect our bilateral relations and undermine alliance solidarity.
The Turkish Embassy in Ottawa
Turkey, which like Canada is a member of NATO, is a key ally of Azerbaijan, whose forces gained territory in the enclave after six weeks of fighting.
“This use was not consistent with Canadian foreign policy, nor end-use assurances given by Turkey,” Garneau said in a statement, adding he had raised his concerns with Cavusoglu earlier in the day.
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In a statement, the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa said: “We expect our NATO allies to avoid unconstructive steps that will negatively affect our bilateral relations and undermine alliance solidarity.”
Last October, Canada suspended the export license of key parts for Turkey's locally-built "Bayraktar TB2."
The parts under embargo include camera systems for Baykar armed drones. Export licenses were suspended in 2019 during Turkish military activities in Syria. Restrictions were then eased, but reimposed during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
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Turkey’s military exports to Azerbaijan jumped sixfold last year. Sales of drones and other military equipment rose to US$77 million in September alone before fighting broke out in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, data showed.
With Reuters input