Canada suspends arms exports to Turkey

SANAA, Oct. 6 (YPA) – Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced Monday evening that his country has decided to suspend all arms exports to Turkey.

The move came following claims that Ankara sent some of its Canadian-made military equipment to its ally to support it in the battles of Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“In accordance with Canada’s strict export control regime, and in view of the continuing fighting, I have issued a decision to suspend the relevant export licenses to Turkey until the situation is better assessed,” Champagne said in a statement.

He added that he had ordered an investigation into allegations “that Canadian technologies were being used in the military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh”.

According to Canadian media, Ottawa in May authorized Canada’s l3 Harris Wescam to export Canadian drone optics and laser targeting systems to a Turkish company that manufactures drones.

According to agencies, these regimes are now accused Azerbaijan of using Bayraktar drones manufactured by the Turkish Company Baykar in more than a week of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

E.M