Türkiye is initiating a diplomatic push to revive energy negotiations with the European Union, emphasizing its potential as a major natural gas supplier after previous talks were derailed by tensions with Cyprus.
Faruk Kaymakcı, Türkiye’s permanent representative to the EU, told POLITICO on Sunday that energy cooperation would take center stage as part of efforts to improve relations, which also include trade discussions and collaboration on conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
This initiative comes as EU member states, including Hungary and Slovakia, seek alternatives to Russian gas following the expiration of a transit agreement allowing gas imports through Ukraine earlier this year.
Kaymakcı stated, “We have the Southern Gas Corridor. We have 18 billion cubic meters of gas, mostly from Azerbaijan, and we can easily expand it by connecting it to Mediterranean gas. Our role is there, our potential is there.”
High-level energy trade talks between Türkiye and the EU were suspended in 2019 after a dispute between Ankara and EU member Southern Cyprus over gas drilling rights in the Mediterranean. According to a statement from the Council of Europe, Turkish companies sought to extract fossil fuels “in Cypriot territorial waters.” Cyprus and Greece, also vying to benefit from these resources, have consistently opposed Türkiye’s actions.
Kaymakcı criticized the EU’s approach, saying, “We see this as a lose-lose situation. Türkiye is one of the three or four main energy arteries; it is up to the EU whether it utilizes it or not.”
He further claimed that only Cyprus currently opposes the resumption of energy dialogue. “They may not need much energy in the sunny Mediterranean,” he said, “but most member states say they need more energy, more diversification. So this will continue,” he added.
Beyond facilitating the transport of Azerbaijani gas and exporting its domestic reserves, Türkiye also imports Russian fuel via the TurkStream pipeline under the Black Sea. Following the expiration of the Kremlin’s transit deal with Ukraine on January 1, this undersea route has become Moscow’s sole connection for supplying Europe.
“With the Ukraine-Russia deal expiring at the beginning of the year, TurkStream becomes even more important,” noted Kadri Taştan, an energy analyst at the German Marshall Fund. “The price of gas is still an issue for the EU, and Türkiye’s position is therefore becoming much stronger.”
Despite the European Commission’s assertion that the expiration of the Ukrainian transit deal will not create supply shortages, Hungary and Slovakia argue otherwise. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened on Friday to block the renewal of the EU’s all-Russian sanctions framework unless Ukraine agreed to restart the transit route.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December, “We will not extend the transit of Russian gas. We will not allow them to make additional billions on our blood.” However, on Saturday, Zelensky indicated that Kyiv is open to transiting Azerbaijani gas through its pipelines, provided Moscow does not benefit financially.