Turkey Hints at Nuclear Arms Race: Foreign Minister Fidan Warns of "Inevitable" Shift if Regional Balance with Iran Collapses

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a stern warning on Tuesday, suggesting that Ankara might be forced to join a regional "nuclear arms race" if Iran's nuclear capabilities continue to disrupt the strategic balance. In an interview with CNN Turk, Fidan stated that while Turkey does not seek nuclear escalation, such a path could become "unavoidable" to safeguard its security interests. He also noted that growing doubts regarding U.S. security commitments are pushing nations across Asia and Europe to reconsider their nuclear postures.

Fidan expressed skepticism that military strikes against Iran would lead to regime change, cautioning that the Middle East cannot withstand another major war. His comments mark a significant shift in Turkish rhetoric, signaling to both Tehran and Washington that Ankara is prepared to pursue autonomous deterrence if the current regional security architecture fails to contain nuclear proliferation.