Türkiye-Libya relations in the context of the energy equation in Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics

The Eastern Mediterranean region, which is of critical geopolitical importance, has become the focal point of energy geopolitics in recent years due to the discovery of energy resources. Energy is already a vital tool required by actors in the international arena. Energy geopolitics examines the interaction of political, economic factors related to the use, production, and distribution of energy resources. In this context, energy geopolitics is a significant factor that affects the relations of actors in the international system politically, economically, and strategically. In the Estern Mediterranean region, there are both coastal and non-coastal international actors. The presence of these multiple actors turns competition in the Eastern Mediterranean into a complex equation. Among the countries with coastlines in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey, with the longest coastline, is being attempted to be sidelined in this equation. Coastal countries in the region, particularly Irael, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus, seek to create an anti-Turkey alignment with the support of actors who have no say the region, in violation of international law. In this context, Turkey, as a significant actor in the Eastern Mediterranean, is developing relations with Libya, which has the potential to change all balances. Libya, which is a valuable actor in terms of energy geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean region, is embroiled in internal turmoil. International actors have become involved in Libya's internal turmoil, which continues. Libya is a country attributed with importance both geopolitically and in the terms of energy within the international systems. Through its relations with Libya, Turkey has disrupted the assumed outcomes of the equation and established itself as a powerful actor in Eastern Mediterranean energy geopolitics.