Fusion energy can strengthen US partnerships with Turkey and the Middle East, shaping future energy diplomacy while countering Russian and Chinese influence.
Fusion Energy and US Strategy
Fusion energy differs from fission by combining light atoms rather than splitting heavy ones. The result is significant energy release with no risk of runaway reactions and little long-lived radioactive waste. Its fuels are common in nature, and the process does not create plutonium, which reduces links to weapons programs, making fusion energy an appealing candidate for long-term energy supply and a useful area for international cooperation.
The United States has shifted fusion energy policy toward near-term demonstration efforts, signalling a move beyond basic research. In January 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $107 million to the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives to accelerate public–private prototype development. Several private companies are also progressing under the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, which funds pilot-plant design work. US universities are increasingly tied into these initiatives, with the DOE’s 2024 Fusion Energy Strategy emphasizing workforce training and research infrastructure.
In the United Kingdom (UK), the government has committed £2.5 billion to the STEP program, which targets a prototype spherical tokamak by 2040. Alongside this investment, the UK has advanced a regulatory framework for fusion energy to support industrial deployment. Both countries now treat fusion as a sector where international collaboration will help set technology standards and regulatory practices. For Washington, the diplomatic advantages fusion energy can bring are as important as the technical progress itself.
Turkey’s Position
Turkey is developing nuclear power through the Akkuyu plant, built with Russian VVER-1200 technology. The project shows how Russian partnerships remain central to Turkey’s initial nuclear program. At the same time, the country has a scientific base relevant to advanced research. Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara has plasma physics and electronics groups. The TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (UZAY) develops satellites and advanced electronics that overlap with diagnostic and control systems used in fusion experiments.
The Turkish Space Agency (TUA) has also expanded international cooperation. In 2025, it signed an agreement with Axiom Space to open supply chain opportunities in aerospace manufacturing. A new space and defense research center in Ankara supports the national space program, which includes satellite and lunar missions. These institutions provide potential avenues for collaboration in areas such as control systems, advanced materials, and instrumentation relevant to fusion research.
Opportunities for Cooperation
For Washington, engaging Turkey in fusion research would place Turkish institutions within a US-aligned technology ecosystem, reducing the long-term impact of Russian nuclear partnerships. It would also create avenues for Turkish universities and industry to participate in joint research and supply chains, supporting a more distributed industrial base for future fusion systems. Cooperation would expand scientific links within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), where energy and aerospace technologies already intersect.
Fusion energy collaboration is not limited to power generation. Neutron sources associated with fusion energy development can be used for medical isotope production, which supports diagnostic and cancer treatment applications. Space-related technologies under development at TÜBİTAK UZAY and the Turkish Space Agency align with work in diagnostics, propulsion, and materials research relevant to fusion systems. Before commercial reactors are available, these research fields offer viable opportunities for collaboration.
Regional Context
Turkey is not the only regional partner of interest. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) operates the Barakah nuclear power plant and has a developed regulatory system, creating opportunities for cooperation in training and safety. Saudi Arabia is pursuing civil nuclear projects and has financial resources that could support advanced energy initiatives. Jordan operates a research reactor used for education and isotope production, while Egypt is constructing the El Dabaa plant and building a supporting supply chain.
Each of these countries offers a different pathway for US engagement, but Turkey stands out as a NATO ally with an established scientific base and a geopolitical position that connects Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Policy Implications
Fusion energy remains in development, but it is no longer confined to the laboratory. Pilot projects, university research, and growing private investment show that the technology is moving toward early application. Several governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, now view fusion as part of long-term energy and industrial policy rather than purely academic research. This creates a window for Washington to incorporate fusion into diplomacy.
Engaging partners such as Turkey and regional states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, would allow the United States to shape technical standards, promote transparency, and embed its allies in US-aligned research and supply chains. Doing so would also reinforce existing security frameworks such as NATO while diversifying energy and technology cooperation in a region where nuclear partnerships are often linked to Russian or Chinese projects.
If Washington does not act, Moscow and Beijing are positioned to expand influence through existing nuclear agreements and targeted investments in advanced energy. Fusion energy is becoming an area of strategic competition, and decisions made in this early phase will influence future markets, supply chains, and governance. For the United States, building partnerships now would ensure that its allies participate in setting the norms and standards of an emerging energy system rather than adapting later to frameworks established by others.
About the Authors: Abdus Saboor Shaik and Okan Yıldız
Abdus Saboor Shaik is a PhD researcher in Nuclear Fusion Materials Research at Imperial College London and Editor at Fusion Energy Insights. He advises the FusionX Group on investment strategies in advanced nuclear technologies and is involved in international diplomacy through the Arab Fusion Energy Programme, which fosters cooperation between the Arab world and Western partners on fusion energy. His work focuses on fusion materials, energy security, and the role of emerging technologies in global diplomacy.
Okan Yıldız is the Secretary General of the Nuclear Industry Association of Türkiye (NIATR) and serves as Director of Marketing and Business Development at NUCLEAN Inc. His career is focused on advancing Türkiye’s nuclear sector through international collaboration, strategic communications, and workforce development. Mr. Yıldız has been directly involved in Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant projects, with professional attention to international cooperation and radiation safety protocols. He is a longstanding advocate for technological localization, industry training, and strengthening the role of Türkiye in global nuclear energy discussions.
Image: Prometheus72/Shutterstock
