Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the issue of nuclear weapons in connection with Iran during an interview with CNN Türk. He stated that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it would disrupt the regional balance of power and could trigger a nuclear arms race that Turkey would be “inevitably forced to join.” Fidan noted that Ankara does not wish to upset the regional balance, but Iran’s nuclearization would create pressure on neighboring countries, making it “impossible for other states to remain indifferent.”
According to Turkologist Tiran Lokmagyozyan, Turkey has a clearly formulated political strategy spanning at least a century, within which the idea of possessing nuclear weapons has periodically surfaced. Although the topic has never been openly articulated at the state level, during various periods — especially amid threats of war or heightened tension — the issue has appeared in the realm of political “whispers.”
Lokmagyozyan points out that the situation is now changing: Turkey is constructing its first nuclear power plant with Russian participation. The presence of nuclear energy infrastructure, according to the expert, theoretically creates prerequisites for nuclear weapons or so-called “dirty bombs,” as countries with nuclear power plants can acquire the technological foundation for such ambitions.
At the same time, the Turkologist emphasizes that the entire process remains under strict control. If the full chain of station operation and fuel supply stays under Russian oversight, and nuclear waste is removed from the country, Turkey’s practical capabilities are significantly limited. In that case, Ankara could possess only theoretical knowledge or ambitions, but not full operational capacity.
Discussing possible sources for acquiring nuclear weapons, Lokmagyozyan notes that neither Russia, Israel, nor the United States would take such a step. However, in recent years, the increasingly close cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan has become particularly noteworthy. Pakistan, which possesses nuclear weapons and shows greater flexibility in such matters, could be viewed as a potential partner based on financial and political arrangements.
According to the Turkologist’s assessment, the actively discussed ideas of pan-Turkic integration in recent years may also play a role here. Although Pakistan is neither Turkic-speaking nor a Turkic state, it is interested in engaging in this format. Turkey, for its part, possesses technological, economic, and political resources that could be attractive to Islamabad.
As a result, Lokmagyozyan concludes that while the question of Turkey acquiring a nuclear arsenal remains at the level of theoretical and political discussions, it fits within the framework of the country’s long-term strategic thinking and requires serious attention from the region and the international community.