Turkey, US sign deal to deepen partnership in nuclear energy

Turkey inked a nuclear deal with the U.S. on September 25, 2025, during Erdogan’s White House visit, confirmed by Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. “We have started a new process that will further deepen the deep-rooted and multidimensional partnership between Türkiye and the United States in the field of nuclear energy,” Bayraktar posted on X.

The agreement, signed with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio present, targets large-scale nuclear plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). Senior official Yusuf Ceylan told Reuters in 2024, “The U.S. is showing serious interest in Türkiye’s goal of increasing its nuclear energy capacity.”

The deal aligns with Turkey’s push to diversify energy, reduce gas imports, and meet rising electricity demand. Beyond the Russia-built Akkuyu plant, Turkey eyes projects in Sinop and Thrace, engaging Japan, South Korea, China, and now the U.S. for technology transfers. SMRs are also under consideration for flexible deployment near industrial zones.