**Ankara, Turkey** - A senior Turkish lawmaker has levelled accusations that burgeoning energy alliances between Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and Israel are strategically engineered to curtail Turkey's influence and confine its maritime activities to its own continental shelf. The statements, made by Ayse Bohurler, a member of the ruling AK Party, on Wednesday, underscore the escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding energy exploration and resource rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The core of Bohurler's assertion is that these collaborative energy ventures, which have seen increased cooperation and joint project development among the participating nations, are not merely about resource exploitation but are part of a concerted effort to isolate Turkey from significant regional energy corridors. She articulated that such partnerships aim to effectively "confine Turkey to its continental shelf," thereby limiting its access to potentially lucrative exploration zones and its broader strategic engagement in the area. This perspective suggests a perception within certain Turkish political circles that these alliances are designed to marginalise Ankara's role in the region's burgeoning energy landscape.
In response to these perceived external machinations, Turkish officials have maintained a firm stance, emphasising that the country is diligently monitoring all regional developments. They have also signalled a readiness to respond assertively to any actions deemed detrimental to Turkey's national interests and sovereign rights. This rhetoric highlights a determination to safeguard what Ankara views as its legitimate claims and presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Adding a layer of complexity to the discourse, Yanki Bagcioglu, a former MP from the opposition CHP party, corroborated aspects of this concern. Bagcioglu pointed to a specific timeframe, suggesting that Turkey had not engaged in exploration or drilling activities in certain "critical areas" of the Eastern Mediterranean since December 2020. This observation, while not directly echoing Bohurler's framing of external machinations, implicitly raises questions about Turkey's operational presence and its extent in contested waters. He stressed the paramount importance of maintaining a tangible national presence in these strategically vital zones, advocating for continued state-led exploration and drilling operations to underscore Turkey's territorial claims.
The history of Turkish maritime activities in the region has been a point of contention. Notably, Turkey deployed its research vessel Oruc Reis in 2019 for seismic surveys, a move that drew significant criticism and heightened tensions with Greece and Cyprus. The last reported instance of the Oruc Reis embarking on new gas searches in the Eastern Mediterranean was in 2022. The current discourse suggests a debate within Turkey about the necessity of projecting power and actively participating in exploration to assert its entitlements, particularly in light of the observed regional energy pacts.
The Eastern Mediterranean has become a focal point for resource competition and maritime boundary disputes, exacerbated by the discovery of substantial natural gas reserves. The formation of energy alliances, such as the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) which includes Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Palestine, and France, is seen by some in Turkey as a direct challenge to its regional ambitions and a deliberate attempt to circumvent its participation in energy infrastructure development. The implications of these competing interests are far-reaching, potentially influencing energy supply routes to Europe and shaping the broader geopolitical balance in the region. Turkey's position underscores a broader struggle for influence and resource access, with significant ramifications for regional stability and international energy markets.