Energy Alliance in a Turbulent Region What are Implications of the East Med Gas Forum for Turkey ?
Journal Title: Turkish Journal of Policy Studies - Year 2021, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is heightened in importance primarily due to issues related to maritime claims, access, and the quest for energy resources. Rights to demarcate, protect, and exploit Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the region are increasingly considered as significant aspects of sea power, strategy and security. In the light of recent hydrocarbon discoveries, a certain sense of disagreement has arisen among littoral states on how to equitable share the off-shore wealth, leading to formation of a U.S.-backed allied group named the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF). Against the backdrop of this development, Turkey increasingly finds itself isolated from the energy conundrum. This paper seeks to examine the mounting instability in the Eastern Mediterranean particularly with regards to rising energy geopolitics, alliance behavior, and challenges in monetization of the region’s recently discovered natural gas resources. By addressing a range of political, economic, and military insecurity issues related to offshore hydrocarbons, this research highlights possible emergent threats, challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities for related actors. The paper conceptually views “alliance building” within the broader context of the term “negotiation” itself. Intrinsically, the assessment recognizes the essential multilateral component in international relations and analyses issues that illustrate how factors in the possession, supply, and distribution of energy resources may impact the outlook of conflict and cooperation in the region. It is argued that coalitional arrangements in the EEZ dispute depict deal-making behavior and are inherently voluntary and unstable. Turkey should be able to engage all stakeholders and create a positive atmosphere to invent options for mutual gain and try to pull away some members of the EMGF coalition, by carrots and sticks, if not form an alternative coalition of their own. This can reduce risks and vulnerabilities associated with the endeavor of accessing, exploring, and exploiting energy resources in the region. The paper ultimately seeks to discuss the instruments through which hydrocarbon security challenges can be addressed such as advancement of intensive political engagement among conflicting parties to build confidence and resolve fundamental differences over competing claims of maritime delimitation, and of multilateral maritime security governance in the region, particularly in reference to the role of regional alliances.
Authors and Affiliations
Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu
Keywords
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