Rivalry in the New Geopolitics of the Mediterranean: Turkey’s Geostrategic Vision and Its Effects on Foreign (Energy) and Security Policies

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean (EM) has endured significant geopolitical alterations in the last decade through the new oil and natural discoveries. The energy issues in the region present geostrategic inferences for the states to assure their economic, politic and geostrategic interests and also accelerate the rivalry among the surrounding states and external powers. In addition, new oil and natural sources discoveries have triggered and increased regional insecurity and instability. Turkey with her geopolitical position is one part of the rivalry in the context of the new geopolitics of the Mediterranean. As a rival, Turkey has struggled for and maintaining its economic and geopolitical interests. Moreover, Turkey aims to be a regional energy hub in the region as a transit route and by its growing gas market. Turkey has distinctly presented a pretentious foreign policy approach with multilateral diplomacy and military deterrence in the regional political debates. The article analyses Turkey’s geostrategic vision and its effects on Turkey’s Turkey’s foreign and energy security policies.

Keywords

• Eastern Mediterranean
• Turkey
• Energy Geopolitics

Doğu Akdeniz’in Yeni Jeopolitiğinde Rekabet: Türkiye’nin Jeostratejik Vizyonu ve Dış (Enerji) ve Güvenlik Politikalarına Etkileri

Öz

Doğu Akdeniz, son yıllarda keşfedilen petrol ve doğal kaynaklar vasıtasıyla önemli jeopolitik değişimler yaşamaktadır. Bölgedeki enerji konuları, bölge devletlerinin ekonomik, politik ve jeostratejik çıkarlarını temin etmek ve sürdürmek adına jeostratejik sonuçlar ortaya çıkarmakta ve Doğu Akdeniz’i çevreleyen devletler ile dış güçler olmak üzere taraflar arasında rekabeti arttırmaktadır. Yeni petrol ve doğal kaynakların keşfi ayrıca bölgenin güvenliğini ve istikrarını olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Türkiye de jeopolitik konumu ile Akdeniz’in değişen jeopolitiği bağlamında rekabetin önemli bir parçasıdır. Rekabetçi olarak Türkiye de ekonomik ve jeopolitik çıkarlarını koruyup sürdürmek istemektedir. Üstelik Türkiye genişleyen doğal gaz pazarı ile bölgesel enerji transfer merkezi olma amacındadır. Türkiye bu amacına yönelik çok taraflı diplomasi ve bölgedeki politik tartışmalar içinde askeri caydırıcılığa da yer vererek iddialı ve inatçı bir dış politika yaklaşımı ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışma, Türkiye’nin jeostratejik vizyonunu ve bu vizyonun Türk dış politikasına ve enerji güvenliği politikasına olan etkilerini analiz etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Doğu Akdeniz
• Türkiye
• Enerji Jeopolitiği

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