Turkey is in talks with the United States to jointly develop rare earth reserves in western Anatolia, signaling a potential pivot toward its NATO ally after similar negotiations with China and Russia stalled over disagreements on technology transfer and refining rights.
According to people familiar with the discussions, Ankara and Washington are exploring a partnership to develop the Beylikova deposit, located near Eskisehir in central Anatolia. The site is believed to contain cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium—key elements used in magnets, electronics, and defense applications—though the exact quality of the reserves remains under assessment.
The discussions come as the two countries seek to deepen cooperation in energy and defense, following a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House last month. If finalized, a joint refining agreement could replace a provisional deal with China, which faltered after Beijing insisted on processing the materials in China rather than transferring refining technology to Turkey.
Talks with Russia also failed to produce results, sources said. Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry declined to comment.
Ankara plans to construct a local refinery in Beylikova, where ore samples have shown a rare earth oxide content exceeding 1% by weight, indicating commercial viability. Turkey is also engaging with Canada and Switzerland for potential cooperation on feasibility studies to advance the project.
To attract investors and ensure transparency, the government intends to apply to the Australian Institute of Geoscientists for JORC Code certification, which establishes international standards for reporting exploration results and resource estimates.
The move aligns with broader Western efforts to reduce reliance on China, which currently dominates more than 80% of global rare earth production and processing. Both the US and EU have intensified efforts to secure alternative sources of critical minerals essential for defense, renewable energy, and high-tech manufacturing.
Turkey, which has long balanced relations between the West and China, joined a US-EU-led initiative in 2024 to diversify critical mineral supply chains. However, it has also attracted Chinese investment in electric vehicle production and has been offered partner-country status in the BRICS bloc.
Ankara continues to emphasize technology transfer and local value creation in its foreign partnerships, including existing cooperation with Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
