Is Pakistan's friend Turkey also capable of making nuclear bomb? The answer will surprise you
Ankara: The world has seen the friendship between Pakistan and Turkey, and how the Middle East was helping Islamabad with weaponry during Operation Sindoor. Military and economic relations between both countries are very strong. The recent conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States has made headlines all over. Both Israel and the US destroyed Iran's nuclear bases, not letting it develop a nuclear bomb. Now, people are asking the question: does Turkey have the capability to make a nuclear bomb?
Notably, Pakistan has been a nuclear power since 1998. What Is The Current Situation Of Turkey?
Currently, the Middle Eastern country doesn't possess any nuclear bombs. It is also a NATO member, and the United States keeps its nuclear weapons (B-61 bombs) there at the Incirlik Air Base. Ankara cannot use these nukes without the permission of America, which it will never get.
It is noteworthy that Ankara has signed an agreement called Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in the year 1968. Under NPT, the country cannot develop nuclear weapons. But if it does so, international sanctions will be imposed on it. Doest Turkey Have Nuclear Technology And Infrastructure?
Because of the NPT, the Middle Eastern country doesn't have uranium mining, nuclear enrichment facilities, or nuclear fuel reprocessing units. These facilities are necessary to make nuclear bombs. However, the country is building the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which will start operating this year. The power plant is being built with the help of Russia.
The nuclear plant is being built to generate electricity. However, some fear it could lead to misuse of nuclear technology. Turkish scientists may have the knowledge to make a bomb, but they lack the infrastructure and raw materials to do so. Turkey-Pakistan Friendship
Both the country maintain a strong military and strategic alliance. While Pakistan has nuclear technology, developed in part through the work of AQ Khan, whose network supplied nuclear materials to Turkey in the 2000s. In bilateral relations between the countries, speculation has been fueled that Pak might share nuclear technology with Ankara. However, there is no concrete evidence to prove this theory. What Did President Erdogan Say?
In 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that it is wrong that some countries possess nuclear weapons but Turkey doesn't. He has expressed a desire for nuclear weapons, especially when the nuclear activities of neighbouring countries like Iran are increasing.
A section of people believe that Erdogan's goal is to make Turkey a neo-Ottoman power, which also includes a nuclear power.
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