Strengthening the friendship and rivalry between Tehran and Ankara

According to Energy Press; Energy security is one of the most important issues of Turkey’s foreign policy. Turkey’s unique geostrategic location between the continents of Europe and Asia provides Turkey with a key role in transporting energy from Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East to Europe. In this regard, Turkey is an important economic and strategic partner for energy exporting and importing countries. On the other hand, it is very necessary for the European Union (EU) to increase the diversity of sources and routes within the scope of the common energy policy and, as a result, ensure energy efficiency and security. When these two facts are considered together, Turkey’s strategic importance in ensuring Europe’s energy security becomes clear. In this regard, Turkey aims to become an energy transport corridor and a regional energy hub.
Helping the regional hub
After the contract between Moscow and Kiev expired on January 1, 2025 and was not renewed, TurkStream now constitutes the only remaining route for transporting Russian gas to Europe. In addition, the Southern Gas Corridor, the most important part of which is the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), was considered in the European energy crisis after the Russia-Ukraine war. The pipeline, which has a carrying capacity of 16 billion cubic meters, is planned to be gradually increased to 24 billion cubic meters and then to 31 billion cubic meters with further investments.
On the other hand, despite the suspension of high-level energy talks between Turkey and the European Union due to the Cyprus issue, Turkey is determined to continue these talks in order to become a natural gas supplier in the region with its potential. In line with this strategy, Turkey, which has the prospect of becoming a regional energy hub, is presenting itself not only as a vital geographical corridor for energy resources but also as a center for international energy trade.
In light of the above, the natural gas supply contract signed between BOTAŞ and Turkmengaz, which will start shipments on March 1, 2025, is an important development in increasing Turkey’s energy security and strengthening its goal of becoming an energy hub. There were discussions about transporting Turkmen gas via Iran through swap agreements or in the long term, the construction of the Trans-Caspian pipeline, with Iran currently being the best option for this. Although the amount of gas to be exported (1.3 billion cubic meters by the end of 2025) is a small part of Turkey’s needs, the start of this project is important. Turkmenistan, which has an annual production capacity of about 80 billion cubic meters, is expected to have the potential to export 65 billion cubic meters of gas by 2050 with appropriate investments.
The integration of Turkey’s new supply routes strengthens its status as a trading hub. The energy diversification strategy increases Turkey’s weight in regional and global markets, as well as its energy security. In addition, the transfer of Turkmen natural gas to Turkey via Iran does not require additional costs, as it will be carried out through existing pipeline infrastructure. In this context, the goal of increasing gas storage capacity will also strengthen Turkey’s role as a key player in regional energy trade.