Türkiye and Canada have formally launched negotiations for ⁠a ⁠free trade agreement (FTA), Canadian Prime Minister ​Mark ​Carney's office ⁠said Tuesday.

"The technical teams from both countries will undertake the necessary work to define the ⁠scope ⁠and ambition of the agreement and prepare for the first round of negotiations," the ⁠office said in a statement.

The move follows ​an agreement last month ​by Canadian ⁠and Turkish ‌trade ‌ministers to ⁠begin exploratory ‌discussions aimed at ​concluding a ⁠free trade ⁠deal.

The statement came shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Carney for talks ahead of the NATO summit in the capital, Ankara.

Erdoğan and Carney discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global developments, the Directorate of Communications said in a statement.

During the meeting, Erdoğan said Türkiye and Canada should intensify efforts to strengthen cooperation in the new era ahead, particularly in trade, security, the defense industry and energy, adding that making use of cooperation potential would benefit both countries.

The president also reiterated Ankara's support for strengthening NATO's European pillar but stressed that such efforts should not replace the "trans-Atlantic bond."

Erdoğan also said that non-EU allies should be included in the European Union's defense initiatives, said the statement.

This is the first visit by a Canadian premier to Türkiye in 11 years.

At the summit, Carney is expected to further strengthen Canada's contributions to the defense alliance, forge new partnerships and build shared security, including for Ukraine.