Canada suspends Exports of Military Equipment to Turkey

Canada has decided to suspend exports of military equipment to Turkey, while it is being investigated that drone sensor technology produced by a company in Ontario has been inappropriately used in the new fight between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Mr. Francois-Philippe Champagne, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, has announced the new move on Monday (Oct 5) after ordering an investigation last week. He is responding to calls from arms control watchdogs, the Armenian Canadians and the New Democratic Party (NDP) to suspend the export of targeting sensors manufactured in Burlington, a company in Ontario which is allegedly being used in Turkish attack drones.

Mr. Champagne said he is suspending the permit to allow time to assess the situation. He said on Monday (Oct 5), “We will collect further evidence to ensure that all exported products comply with the spirit of the law and legal provisions.”

Turkey, which is also a Canadian NATO ally, faces accusations that it has been involved in the renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Caucasus region. Canada Britain has called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve their differences in negotiations before the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The Canadian disarmament organization Project Ploughshares released a report stating that Turkey is increasingly using targeting sensors made by L3Harris WESCAM, a Canadian subsidiary of the American company L3Harris, posing a major risk of human rights violations.

Ploughshares stated in the report that Turkey has been using sensors since 2017 and it’s military has been trying to quell the insurgency in Southeastern Turkey and participating in military operations in Libya, Iraq and Syria.

The Armenian National Committee of Canada called on the Federal Government to condemn this complete aggression by Azerbaijan and immediately stop exports of arms to Turkey.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) critic of foreign affairs Jack Harris urged the Liberal government to look in the mirror to ensure that it does not properly regulate arms exports to Turkey and does not participate in human rights violations.