Hightlights

• Turkey joins the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Forum.
• Concerns exist about the validation of Turkey’s rare earth reserves.
• The geopolitical impacts of Turkish rare earths are significant.

What is the MSP forum?

On April 5, 2024, the U.S. State Department announced (opens in a new tab) the launch of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Forum in Leuven, Belgium. The event was hosted by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken with the European Commission Executive Vice President. The forum involved participants from MSP partner economies and minerals-producing countries. The MSP Forum aims to cement partnerships with countries committed to ESG standards and promote diverse and resilient supply chains.

So, what about Turkey?

According to a report in the Middle East Eye (opens in a new tab), Turkey is set to formally join the MSP forum. In 2022, Turkey announced the discovery of a significant rare earth element reserve in Eskisehir, attracting global interest but also skepticism due to a lack of independent validation.

What are Turkish rare earth goals?

Turkey aims to produce substantial quantities of rare elements and become a full MSP member. The discovery positions Turkey to potentially influence the global market, but concerns about validation remain.

Doubts?

Despite Turkey’s claims, experts have significant doubts concerning the quality and size of the deposit. The lack of detailed information has fueled concerns about Turkey’s viability as a major player in the rare earth market without independent verification.

EU way?

Turkey’s participation in the forum could be strategically significant, allowing it to integrate into the rapidly evolving rare earth sector, from funding to production.

Turkish Trajectories

Turkey is navigating relationships with both the West and China, as it attempts to establish infrastructure for rare earth extraction and refining, requiring substantial capital and technology.

Chinese Terms?

Turkey has considered partnerships with China, which has shown interest in establishing rare earth mines in Turkey. Turkey’s decision whether to align with China or the West remains open.

Alparslan Bayraktar, the power broker from Ankara

Alparslan Bayraktar keeps engagement open with both China and the West, discussing potential partnerships for Turkey’s rare earth deposits, leaving options for collaboration wide-ranging.