Ankara — Turkey is in advanced discussions with the United States to jointly develop a major rare-earth reserve in western Anatolia, signaling a strategic realignment toward its NATO ally after similar negotiations with China and Russia faltered over technology transfer and refining rights.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the talks center on newly identified rare-earth deposits in Beylikova, near Eskisehir in central Anatolia. The site reportedly contains significant quantities of cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium—metals critical for high-tech industries and defense applications. Early tests suggest the ore holds more than 1% rare-earth oxide by weight, making extraction commercially feasible.
If Ankara and Washington finalize an agreement, the partnership could effectively replace a provisional deal signed with China in October 2024. That agreement stalled when Beijing insisted that refining be carried out in China and refused to transfer key technologies to Turkish partners. Parallel talks with Russia also yielded no tangible results, sources said.
The rare-earth initiative follows renewed engagement between Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House last month. Both leaders have expressed intent to deepen cooperation in energy, defense, and advanced technology sectors.
Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations. However, officials familiar with Ankara’s strategic plans said the government aims to establish a domestic refinery in Beylikova to process the ores locally. Turkey is also engaging with Canada and Switzerland to explore technical feasibility studies and potential investment partnerships.
In addition, Ankara plans to seek certification from the Australian Institute of Geoscientists under the internationally recognized JORC Code, which sets reporting standards for mineral exploration. The certification would provide independent verification of the deposit’s size and composition—key factors for attracting investors.
The move comes as the United States and the European Union intensify efforts to reduce global reliance on China, which currently dominates more than 80% of the world’s rare-earth production and refining. Rare earths are essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, smartphones, renewable energy systems, and advanced military hardware.
Turkey’s pivot toward Western cooperation underscores its attempt to balance economic and strategic interests amid growing competition between major powers. While Ankara has joined a U.S.- and EU-led partnership to diversify critical mineral supply chains, it has also cultivated closer ties with Beijing through infrastructure investments and electric vehicle production projects.
Despite those engagements, Turkish officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of local manufacturing and technology transfer — principles that have also guided its collaborations with American defense contractors such as Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.
As global demand for rare earths continues to surge, the Beylikova project could emerge as a key testing ground for Turkey’s broader ambitions: leveraging its strategic geography and resource potential to become a vital link in the West’s critical mineral supply chain.
