Türkiye

Nuclear-weapon host state

Hosts 20 US nuclear weapons

Has not yet joined the TPNW

SIGNED

RATIFIED

IN FORCE

Status

Türkiye has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

National position

Türkiye has consistently voted against an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that welcomes the adoption of the TPNW and calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to it “at the earliest possible date”.

Nuclear weapons in Türkiye

Türkiye is one of five members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that host US nuclear weapons on their territories as part of a nuclear-sharing agreement. The Turkish air force is assigned approximately 20 B61 nuclear bombs, which are deployed at Incirlik Air Base.

Türkiye supports the retention and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, as indicated by its endorsement of various alliance statements.

Political developments

The former Turkish defence minister Hikmet Sami Türk was among the signatories to an open letter in 2020 calling on current leaders to “show courage and boldness – and join the [TPNW]”.

TPNW negotiations

Türkiye did not participate in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption. On the opening day of the negotiating conference, it joined the United States and several other states in protesting the treaty-making process.

In 2016, Türkiye voted against the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

In a document sent to NATO members ahead of the vote, the United States “strongly encourage[d]” members, including Türkiye, to vote against the resolution, “not to merely abstain”. In addition, it said that, if the treaty negotiations do commence, allies and partners should “refrain from joining them”.

Further information

Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor

Türkiye

Nuclear-weapon host state

Hosts 20 US nuclear weapons

Has not yet joined the TPNW

Status

National position

Nuclear weapons in Türkiye

Political developments

TPNW negotiations

Further information

Local Partner Organizations

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