World · Middle East · 8 hrs ago
South Korea and Türkiye agree to expand nuclear and defence cooperation
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to deepen cooperation at a Seoul summit on Tuesday.
The plans include nuclear energy, defence, clean energy and mining.
Türkiye is seeking partners for its planned Sinop nuclear power plant, and South Korean companies are seeking a role in the project.
The two governments also agreed on a framework to explore financing for nuclear power projects, including through cooperation between Turkish and South Korean institutions.
They said they would expand joint defence production and technology work, and look at opportunities to pursue projects in other countries.
Separate agreements cover clean energy and cooperation on critical minerals and rare earth elements.
The agreements aim to turn closer ties into projects and investment, with a Türkiye-South Korea energy forum due to meet once a year in each country to follow up.
South Korea and Türkiye agreed to expand cooperation in nuclear energy and defence at a summit in Seoul on November 3, 2026.
The countries signed a memorandum on financing nuclear power projects to support South Korean companies’ participation.
Their leaders also agreed to expand joint defence production and technology cooperation and explore opportunities in third-country markets.
Türkiye and South Korea also signed agreements covering energy and mining, including clean energy technologies, critical minerals and rare earth elements.
The agreements build on a 2025 memorandum concerning Türkiye’s planned Sinop nuclear power plant.
- Who
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
- What
- They agreed to expand nuclear energy and defence cooperation and signed agreements on nuclear project financing, energy and mining.
- When
- November 3, 2026.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- The agreements aim to support nuclear power projects and South Korean companies’ participation, and to broaden cooperation in energy, mining and defence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Türkiye and South Korea signed a memorandum laying the groundwork for cooperation on Türkiye’s planned Sinop nuclear power plant.
The countries’ leaders met in Seoul and announced expanded cooperation in nuclear energy and defence.
Türkiye and South Korea signed agreements on energy, mining and financing for nuclear power projects.
- Summit
- Seoul, November 3, 2026
- Leaders
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Lee Jae Myung
- Nuclear project
- Planned Sinop nuclear power plant
- Financing partners
- Türkiye Nuclear Energy Inc. and Korea Electric Power Corporation
- Prior agreement
- Nuclear cooperation memorandum signed in November 2025
5 sources
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What people are saying
cooperation on Turkey's Sinop nuclear power plant project has been progressing smoothly
deepen defence cooperation by expanding joint production and technological cooperation, while also exploring opportunities for companies from both countries to jointly enter third-country markets
will take this cooperation even further
The memorandum of understanding signed between Türkiye Nuclear Energy Inc. and the Korea Electric Power Corporation constitutes an important foundation for our cooperation