In an interview with CNN Turk on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Turkey could be drawn into a nuclear race if Iran acquires nuclear weapons. Such a development would change regional security and create pressure on neighboring countries, he said, quoted by The Jerusalem Post.
If Iran acquires nuclear weapons
"If Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it will not be possible for other countries to remain indifferent," Fidan said in the interview. He added that the consequences would not be limited to Iran, warning of a chain reaction throughout the Middle East, triggered by the logic of deterrence and the heightened sense of threat.
The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously considered such an option, but has not taken any concrete steps to acquire nuclear weapons, the German newspaper "Rheinische Post" said.
Fidan's interview now raises the question of whether Ankara is about to abandon its previous restraint on the issue. Such a debate is currently taking place in many European Union countries, the publication added.
Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons. Israel's willingness to attack even Washington's partners in the region, such as the capital of Qatar, without the US reacting, is causing Muslim countries in the region to consider alternatives. Saudi Arabia, for example, has already announced that if Iran acquires an atomic bomb, it will make Riyadh a nuclear power as well.
In this regard, the Saudis concluded a defense alliance with Pakistan - the only Islamic nuclear power, recalls "Rheinische Post".
However, Turkey is in a different situation, points out "Tagesspiegel". The German publication recalls that as a member of NATO, Turkey is, at least theoretically, protected by the US nuclear umbrella. In addition, American nuclear weapons are stored in Turkish military bases, the number of which is unknown, and with Russian help, Turkey is building its first nuclear power plant. By joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Turkey has officially committed not to use nuclear weapons, the publication also says.
70% of Turks want Turkey to become a nuclear power
Regardless of this, the threat that Turkey feels from Iran and its own perception of itself as a regional power could strengthen Turkey's interest in possessing its own nuclear weapons, "Tagesspiegel" further points out.
According to the results of a sociological survey last year, 70 percent of the country's population supports the idea of Turkey acquiring nuclear weapons.
So far, however, there are no signs that Turkey is taking concrete steps in this direction, "Tagesspiegel" also points out. and quotes Turkish author and blogger Muat Yetken, who is not convinced that the country is currently pursuing its own nuclear weapons. "At least for now, Turkey is relying on NATO," he says. If there is a domino effect in the region, however, Ankara will want to keep all options open, Yetken also told "Tagesspiegel".