Turkey's energy role to help solve regional woes

Turkey has a unique geostrategic position. This fact cannot be denied. Yet, in recent years the fact that Turkey has started emerging as a major energy hub in the world has added to its growing importance. Turkey has always impressed its friends and foes as a reliable partner in every field. Thus it has emerged as a reliable and viable route for the flow of energy from the world energy fields to Western consumers.

Today we are talking of a Middle East where even Israel is extracting natural gas and is planning to sell it to the European consumers via Turkey.

The Greek Cypriots also have no other alternative but to use the Turkish route to sell the natural gas they will extract in the territorial waters of the island.

Turkey and Russia are undertaking massive energy transportation projects that will satisfy the energy needs of southern Europe as well as the rest of the continent. The fact that Turkey is building facilities that will transport energy from Azerbaijan and Northern Iraq is turning it into a major energy hub, thus adding to the undisputable importance of the country.

The fact that Turkey is building its first nuclear power plant with the help of Russia and the support of Moscow to transport its natural gas through Turkey to western consumers has turned the old time antagonists into modern time friends. Even the temporary crisis of the downing of the Russian jet could not damage relations permanently, simply because the vital common interests and the warm relations created out of these were too intense.

This was clearly manifested when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 23rd World Energy Congress, which Istanbul is currently hosting. The cooperation that started with energy cooperation has mushroomed into growing intense relations between Ankara and Moscow in every field from tourism and trade to foreign relations.

Turkey and Russia may not see eye to eye on the Assad regime in Syria, yet they both agree that the territorial integrity of Syria should be preserved and that we should not allow the country to fall to pieces. Turkey accepts Russia, as a regional power, has its interests to safeguard and Russia also agrees that Turkey has similar interests that have to be respected. Turkey does not oppose Russian bases on the Mediterranean shores, while Russia does not oppose Turkey's opposition for the creation of a Kurdish state in northern Syria.

The visit of President Putin to Istanbul is an important step in helping the two countries iron out their differences on Syria in the light of the spirit of cooperation that has been created in the energy sector as well as in other areas.

Now, Turkey is starting to look much closer to safeguard the regional interests of its partners. This means Turkey does not perceive issues from an angle of pacts, but through regional interests and the interests of its neighbors as well as its own interests. The idea is to solve regional issues by safeguarding the interests of regional players and not outside powers. This is a new approach that means Turkey is making an effort to put justice at home and justice around the world as a key motto.