Turkey, US Sign Landmark Deal on Nuclear Cooperation

Turkey and the United States signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on civil nuclear cooperation on Thursday, during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s high-profile visit to the White House.

The agreement was formally signed by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in the presence of Presidents Erdoğan and Donald Trump.

Speaking immediately after the signing, Minister Bayraktar described the agreement as a "turning point" in Turkish-American relations, saying it “ushers in a new era of multidimensional energy cooperation, built on mutual trust and shared strategic goals.”

The MoU sets the framework for long-term collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear technology, encompassing areas such as nuclear power generation, research and development, technology sharing, safety protocols, and regulatory harmonization.

"This is not just about energy," Bayraktar added. "This is about vision. Turkey is committed to a diversified, secure, and sustainable energy future. With this agreement, we are taking concrete steps toward becoming a regional leader in civil nuclear technology."

President Trump, speaking at the outset of his meeting with Erdoğan, welcomed the agreement and said both nations are "determined to strengthen cooperation in high-tech energy fields, including civil nuclear development, in ways that promote security and stability."

Officials familiar with the agreement describe it as a strategic alignment rather than a transactional deal. It is expected to pave the way for joint feasibility studies, technical exchanges, and potential U.S. investment in future Turkish nuclear projects.

Turkey currently operates its first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, in collaboration with Russia, but the new U.S. partnership signals Ankara’s intent to diversify its nuclear partnerships and reduce reliance on any single foreign actor.

The agreement may also explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs), a technology the U.S. is championing globally. These smaller, flexible reactors are seen as ideal for emerging markets seeking cleaner baseload energy without the massive infrastructure of traditional nuclear plants.