Turkey’s Strategic Role in European Energy Security: Implications of the Energy Sector for Political Cooperation

Abstract

Turkey’s strategic location between energy-producing regions and Europe positions it as a central actor in European energy security. The Southern Gas Corridor has enhanced Turkey’s role as a transit hub, allowing the European Union to diversify its gas supplies and reduce dependence on Russia. Despite diversification efforts, Turkey remains dependent on Russian gas, which accounted for 42.3% of total imports in 2024, creating political tensions with the EU. This dual reality highlights the complexity of Turkey’s position: while indispensable for European energy security, it faces structural vulnerabilities that influence its political leverage and cooperation with the EU. Agreements with neighboring countries, such as Georgia, further strengthen Turkey’s transit capacity, enabling alternative energy routes and enhancing regional resilience. However, divergent energy policies, reliance on fossil fuels, and geopolitical alignments limit the potential for energy cooperation to fully resolve broader political disputes. This study demonstrates that Turkey’s growing energy role has both economic and political implications, reinforcing its importance in European energy security while simultaneously generating challenges for EU–Turkey relations.