Canada Drops Weapons Export Controls to Türkiye, Including Drone Technology

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)
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Canada Drops Weapons Export Controls to Türkiye, Including Drone Technology

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)

Canada on Monday said it had dropped weapons export controls to Türkiye, including drone optical technology, according to a notice posted online, saying that from now on it would review all exports on a case-by-case basis.
Canada suspended drone technology sales to Türkiye, a fellow member of NATO, in 2020 after concluding its optical equipment attached to Turkish-made drones had been used by Azerbaijan while fighting ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno Karabakh, an enclave Baku has since retaken.
Canada had linked resolving the export freeze with Türkiye’s welcoming of Sweden into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which it did last week.
Ottawa's announcement on Monday confirms a Reuters exclusive published last week.
Under the agreement to restart exports, Türkiye will clearly indicate whether the items will be re-exported or transferred to a non-NATO country, with the exception of Ukraine, and in what form the item will be re-exported, the statement said.
Canada will examine each export on case-by-case basis and said it can cancel permits at any time if there is misuse, the statement said.
The notification process, which is standard under the international arms trade, covers Wescam sensors used in Türkiye’s Bayraktar TB2 drones and other dual-use goods and arms-related exports.
"The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) condemns the recent decision by the Government of Canada to lift its longstanding arms embargo on Türkiye," the group said in a statement online.
"This decision has raised alarming concerns within the Armenian-Canadian community, as it compromises Canada's commitment to human rights, international security, and justice."



Kremlin, Asked if It Consulted Iran Over Trump’s Nuclear Letter, Says Tehran Makes Its Own Decisions 

A woman uses her mobile telephone as she walks past a mural painted on the outer wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran, dubbed the "Den of Espionage", on March 8, 2025. (AFP)
A woman uses her mobile telephone as she walks past a mural painted on the outer wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran, dubbed the "Den of Espionage", on March 8, 2025. (AFP)
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Kremlin, Asked if It Consulted Iran Over Trump’s Nuclear Letter, Says Tehran Makes Its Own Decisions 

A woman uses her mobile telephone as she walks past a mural painted on the outer wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran, dubbed the "Den of Espionage", on March 8, 2025. (AFP)
A woman uses her mobile telephone as she walks past a mural painted on the outer wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran, dubbed the "Den of Espionage", on March 8, 2025. (AFP)

The Kremlin, asked on Monday if Russia had held consultations with Iran before or after Tehran responded to a letter from US President Donald Trump urging the country to negotiate a nuclear deal, said Iran formulates its own policy positions.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations, a day after Trump said he had sent a letter urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.

Asked if Moscow had consulted with Tehran before or after Trump's letter, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "No. Iran is a sovereign country and independently formulates its position on key foreign policy issues. It is clear that very tense contacts are ahead."

Trump has previously said he would reimpose a policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran, aimed at preventing the country from building nuclear weapons, even as he has signaled openness to a new nuclear accord with Tehran.

Russia and Iran have drawn closer since the start of the war in Ukraine, with Tehran providing Moscow with drones.

Regarding possible talks on Tehran's nuclear program, Peskov said: "It is clear that Iran is seeking negotiations based on mutual respect, constructive negotiations."

"We, of course, for our part, will continue to do everything that depends on us, everything that is possible, in order to bring this process of settling the Iranian nuclear dossier into a peaceful direction."