Turkey Eyes US Rare Earths Deal After China, Russia Talks Slow

 Turkey is discussing developing rare-earth reserves in western Anatolia with the US, marking a shift toward its NATO ally after similar talks with China and Russia slowed amid disagreements over technology transfer and refining rights.

Ankara and Washington are exploring a potential partnership to develop a large reserve of rare-earth deposits recently discovered in Beylikova, near Eskisehir in central Anatolia, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. The discovery includes cerium, praseodymium and neodymium, with the quality unclear at this stage, they added.

The two countries are working to deepen cooperation from energy to defense in the wake of a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House last month. If they reach a deal to jointly refine the compounds found in Beylikova, it could upend a provisional agreement with China. Recent discussions with Russia produced no results either, the people said without providing details.

Turkey and China signed a memorandum of understanding on the same project in Oct. 2024, but talks slowed down after Beijing insisted on transporting and refining the materials in China, refusing to transfer the technology, the people said. Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry declined to comment. 

Turkey plans on building a refinery in Beylikova, which contains ore with more than 1% rare-earth oxide by weight — enough to make extraction commercially viable, according to initial tests, the people said. The country is also holding talks with Canada and Switzerland on potential cooperation, including on feasibility studies needed to advance the project, they said.

In addition, Ankara plans to apply to the Australian Institute of Geoscientists for certification under the JORC Code — which sets minimum standards for how companies publicly report exploration results and would reveal the size of deposits for potential investors.

Ankara’s talks with Western partners come as the US and European Union intensify efforts to curb China’s dominance in production and processing of rare earths — a group of 17 metallic elements critical to defense, advanced medical technology and everyday electronics like iPhones. 

Ankara has long sought to balance its ties with both the West and China amid growing global trade tensions. In September last year, it joined a partnership led by the US and EU aimed at diversifying critical mineral supply chains. But it has also been offered partner-country status in the Beijing-led BRICS group of emerging-market powers and attracted Chinese investment in electric vehicle production. 

Turkish officials continue to emphasize technology transfer and local manufacturing as a key part of its deals with US giants Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.