Prime Minister Mark Carney will depart Ottawa on July 6 for Ankara to attend the 2026 NATO Summit before heading to Riyadh for a three-day trade and technology visit, his office confirmed on June 30. The itinerary underscores Canada’s push to diversify defence supply chains and court Gulf investment ahead of the 2026 federal election. For global mobility managers the announcement starts the clock on arranging last-minute diplomatic clearances, business visas and COVID-booster documentation for accompanying industry delegates. To streamline that scramble, Canadian companies frequently turn to VisaHQ. The firm’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) consolidates up-to-date visa requirements, pre-screening forms and vaccination mandates, allowing mobility teams to submit batch applications for Turkey, Saudi Arabia and dozens of other destinations with just a few clicks. Turkey grants Canadian officials visa-free entry but requires a security pre-screening list at least 72 hours before arrival, while Saudi Arabia still issues single-entry eVisas that must be activated within 30 days of approval. The Prime Minister’s Office says the mission will include CEOs from aerospace, clean tech and AI firms seeking contracts under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2040. Observers expect discussions on mutual recognition of professional engineering licences—a longstanding barrier for Canadian consultants bidding on mega-projects in NEOM and the Red Sea corridor. Carney will also visit Canadian troops deployed under Operation REASSURANCE and announce an expansion of the newly created SAFE (Security Action for Europe) initiative, which will rotate cyber-defence specialists through Eastern European command centres. HR teams with staff on secondment to NATO structures should watch for new allowances covering dependants and schooling.
