Turkey just made a massive mistake that puts all of NATO at risk. The country is letting Russia build and run its first nuclear power plant in a deal worth 25 billion dollars. This gives Vladimir Putin direct control over a key piece of infrastructure inside a NATO country.
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant sits on Turkey’s southern coast and will provide 10 percent of the country’s electricity. Russia’s state-owned Rosatom corporation owns the entire project and will operate it for decades. Turkey had the chance to buy up to 49 percent of the plant but chose not to for 15 years.
This is exactly what happens when countries get too cozy with our enemies. Turkey wanted cheap energy and took Putin’s money instead of building their own plant or working with trusted allies. Now Russia has a permanent foothold inside NATO territory.
The security risks are enormous and obvious. Putin could shut down Turkey’s power grid anytime he wants during a crisis. Russian technicians and engineers will have access to sensitive areas near NATO bases and operations. This gives Moscow eyes and ears right inside our alliance.
Turkey’s President Erdogan has been playing both sides for years while real Americans pay the price. He buys Russian weapons, ignores sanctions, and now hands over critical infrastructure to the Kremlin. This is not how a reliable NATO ally should behave.
The Biden administration should have stopped this deal before it started. Instead, they watched Russia expand its influence into Europe while doing nothing. Now American taxpayers fund NATO defense for a country that welcomes Russian control over its power supply.
Turkey still owes Russia 7 billion dollars for the project and can’t figure out how to pay without violating sanctions. The whole mess shows what happens when countries choose quick deals over long-term security. Putin is laughing all the way to the bank.
This nuclear plant will be Russia’s permanent base of operations inside NATO for the next 60 years. Every American should ask why we defend countries that invite our enemies to build critical infrastructure on their soil. Turkey made its choice and it was the wrong one.
