Türkiye and Uzbekistan sign pact for cooperation on critical minerals

Türkiye and Uzbekistan have taken a strategic step to deepen their economic partnership, formalizing cooperation in the vital mining sector during a high-level summit in Ankara. The agreement, signed on Thursday, specifically targets collaboration on critical raw materials and rare earth elements, resources essential for modern technology and clean energy.

A Strategic Focus on Critical Minerals

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Uzbek Minister of Mining Industry and Geology Bobir Islamov signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Minister Bayraktar announced the signing on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, outlining its objectives. "The agreement aims to promote information sharing, research and development, and the implementation of concrete projects in the areas of critical minerals and rare earth elements," he stated. Bayraktar expressed confidence that the deal would be "an important step toward achieving the trade volume target set by our leaders," underscoring its role in the broader economic ambitions between the two Turkic states.

Signed in the Shadow of a Presidential Summit

The mining MoU was one of several agreements finalized on the sidelines of the official state visit by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Türkiye. President Mirziyoyev was welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential complex, where the two leaders subsequently co-chaired the Fourth Meeting of the Türkiye-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. This high-level strategic forum sets the overarching agenda for bilateral relations, making the mining agreement a concrete deliverable from top-tier political engagement.

Part of a Broader Sweep of Bilateral Agreements

The mining sector pact was not an isolated achievement. The presidential summit yielded a suite of new agreements and memoranda covering a diverse range of fields, including health, education, culture, transport corridors, energy, higher education, and the development of free and special economic zones. This expansive package highlights the multidimensional nature of the Ankara-Tashkent partnership, which spans diplomacy, security, trade, and cultural exchange. The focus on mining and critical raw materials, however, points to a forward-looking economic strategy, aligning Türkiye's industrial needs and technological ambitions with Uzbekistan's rich mineral resource base.