The importane of energy in relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan and Trans Anatolian natural gas pipeline

Today, when energy has become extremely important in international relations, Turkey-Azerbaijan relations are shaped based on energy relations. This development is based on the priorities of the two countries in foreign policy and regional policy, supported by mutual political will to maintain relations at this level. Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan are determined by mutual goodwill as well as historical, cultural, ethnic and religious ties. Energy cooperation has been a key factor in bilateral relations. Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan play an important role in determining relations with other countries in the region. Azerbaijan, which gained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union, aimed to develop independent energy policies for the extraction, processing and delivery of natural resources to international markets. However, due to the many external and internal problems it faced in the early stages of its independence, it could not find the opportunity to develop its own energy strategy. Turkey has been the country with which Azerbaijan cooperated most in this process in energy policy. As a result of this cooperation, many successful projects have been carried out between the two countries at the point of transporting energy resources, and the development of these projects continues today. With the realization of the projects, Turkey became a bridge in the delivery of Azerbaijani oil and gas to Western consumers. While the projects reinforced Azerbaijan's position as a regional actor, they also allowed to further increase energy-based cooperation with Turkey. Trans Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) natural gas pipeline projects, which are an important initiative among these projects, also formed the basis of the future relations of the two peoples and the state. In this study, the contributions of TANAP to the energy relations between the two countries will be examined. It is thought that the study will contribute to science and literature.