Türkiye finalized a strategic nuclear cooperation deal with the United States during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the White House on September 25. The agreement is seen as a key step in strengthening energy ties between the two countries.
Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın @RTErdogan ile Amerika Birleşik Devletleri Başkanı Sayın Donald Trump’ın Beyaz Saray’da gerçekleştirdiği görüşmeye katılım sağladık.
Türkiye ile Amerika Birleşik Devletleri arasındaki köklü ve çok boyutlu ortaklığı nükleer enerji alanında daha da… pic.twitter.com/ci7InzI4GZ
— Alparslan Bayraktar (@aBayraktar1) September 25, 2025
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced the deal on X, stating:
“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. With the US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio, in the presence of the leaders after the meeting, we signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation.”
Türkiye Expands Energy Cooperation
The nuclear deal comes alongside another significant energy agreement during Erdogan’s U.S. trip. State-run BOTAS signed contracts for 75.8 billion cubic meters of LNG imports with Swiss-based Mercuria and Australia’s Woodside Energy.
Türkiye’s Nuclear Talks with the US
Although specific details of the nuclear deal were not released, Turkish officials confirmed that talks are ongoing on building both large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs).
In a previous interview with Reuters, senior Energy Ministry official Yusuf Ceylan noted: “The U.S. is showing serious interest in Türkiye’s goal of increasing its nuclear energy capacity and building new power plants.”
He added, “We can consider the areas of existing power plants or new power plants. We are negotiating with the U.S. for both large scale power plants and small modular reactors.”
Türkiye’s Nuclear Energy Ambitions
Türkiye’s latest agreement with the U.S. reflects its long-term strategy to diversify energy sources, reduce dependence on imported natural gas, and meet rising electricity demand.
The country’s first nuclear project, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin, is being constructed by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom. The $20 billion facility, with four reactors and a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts, is scheduled to begin phased operations in 2026.
Beyond Akkuyu, Türkiye is also pursuing two additional nuclear projects—one in Sinop on the Black Sea coast and another in Thrace in the northwest. Talks with Japan, South Korea, China, and now the United States have focused on investment and technology transfer.
Türkiye has also expressed interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), a new technology that offers flexibility and can be integrated with renewable energy to ensure stable supply.
