Turkey May Join the Nuclear Arms Race — Under What Conditions?

Turkey does not rule out the possibility of joining the regional nuclear arms race due to concerns about Iran’s ambitions.

This was reported by Bloomberg, citing a statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

According to him, Ankara is trying not to upset the fragile balance of power in the Middle East, as this could provoke a large-scale nuclear arms race. At the same time, Turkey may be forced to join such a process in the event of further escalation of threats.

Fidan’s statement came amid US efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program. At the same time, Turkey accused Israel of possessing nuclear weapons, stressing that this undermines regional stability — a claim that Israel traditionally neither confirms nor denies.

According to Fidan, the development of nuclear weapons “needs to be considered in a broader context” as it is a “strategic issue of the highest order.”

He stressed that Turkey does not have its own nuclear weapons program and is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The country is currently building the first of three nuclear power plants designed exclusively for electricity generation. Overall, Iran’s military nuclear program could trigger a chain reaction of nuclear weapons proliferation in the region. In particular, Saudi Arabia has already declared its readiness to follow this path, although it does not currently have the necessary technological capabilities.

Turkey also hosts dozens of American nuclear warheads at the Incirlik airbase in Adana province as part of NATO mechanisms, but does not have the authority to transport or use them in combat.

Commenting on the talks between the US and Iran, which took place in Oman on Friday and are set to continue this week, Fidan stressed that air strikes “will not lead to regime change” in Tehran. According to him, the Middle East cannot withstand another major war.

At the same time, the Turkish foreign minister noted that Iran is not yet capable of building a nuclear bomb.

Earlier, on January 28, it was reported that Sweden had held preliminary consultations with France and the UK on possible cooperation in the field of nuclear deterrence.

Both statements were made against the backdrop of broader discussions on strengthening European autonomy in the field of security within NATO, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the long-term commitments of the United States and the continuing high level of geopolitical tension.