Does Turkey Have Nuclear Weapons?

In recent years, global security and geopolitical balance have become increasingly urgent issues. From this perspective, the question “Does Turkey have nuclear weapons?” is of great interest — especially since Turkey is an active member of NATO and is geographically close to our region, making it particularly relevant for us in Uzbekistan.

Yes, Turkey hosts nuclear weapons — but they are not its own
Let’s be clear: Turkey does not have its own nuclear arsenal. That means the country has not independently developed or controls any nuclear weapons. But that’s not the full story.

Turkey is part of NATO’s nuclear sharing program, in which the United States stores nuclear weapons on the territory of select NATO allies — including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Turkey.

Incirlik Air Base — where U.S. nuclear bombs are stored
In southern Turkey, Incirlik Air Base hosts around 20 B61 tactical nuclear bombs belonging to the United States. These are modern weapons with variable explosive yields.

Crucially, these bombs remain under full control of the U.S. military. Turkey cannot deploy, move, or use them without explicit authorization from the United States, in line with NATO’s nuclear doctrine.

Why does the U.S. store nuclear weapons in Turkey?
There are two key reasons behind this strategic positioning:
1. Nuclear deterrence — to discourage hostile actors from launching an attack.
2. Reassurance for NATO allies — providing a security guarantee backed by the U.S. military.

In short, the presence of these weapons strengthens Turkey’s security posture within NATO and acts as a deterrent against external threats. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!