Exclusive-Canada unfreezes talks with Turkey on export controls after NATO move-source

FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ahead of a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 11, 2023. Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

ANKARA (Reuters) -Canada has unfrozen talks with Turkey on lifting export controls on drone parts after Ankara gave its nod for Sweden to join NATO, a person familiar with the talks said, a move seen as one of several concessions won in exchange for the Turkish blessing.

President Tayyip Erdogan's greenlight, which ended more than a year of opposition to Sweden's membership bid, came as a surprise even to allies at home who had supported him in demanding Stockholm first take steps against groups deemed terrorists by Ankara.