Russian-Turkish energy ties (1995?2005),

Turkish-Russian energy ties has reached `a multi-dimensional partnership?. It is true that all countries of the world are increasingly in need of more energy. Access to energy resources is a prerequisite for a powerful and competitive economy.While Russia is the biggest gas producing country of the world, Europe is the leading gas market. At this point, Turkey?s location has a crucial role in this equilibrium.Turkey wants to be a part of the solution in the field of energy at the global level. Russia wishes to transfer the gas and oil to Europe via the shortest route and in the cheapest way. For this purpose, Turkey has already developed several projects; Blue Pipeline (natural gas), Baku-Tiflis-Ceyhan (Oil), Iran-Turkey (Natural Gas, Iraq-Turkey (Oil) and Russia-Turkey (Natural Gas). Even these existing pipelines are not sufficient to make Turkey a global energy actor. In fact, Turkey aspires to a bigger role and she has taken steps to increase the number of pipelines, some of which are being built and the others in project development phase. These include Nubucco (Natural Gas), Russion-Turkey-Israil (Natural Gas), Turkmenistan-Iran-Türkiye (Natural Gas), Turkmenistan-Azerbaijcan-Georgia-Turkey (Natural Gas), Egypt-Turkey (Natural Gas), Turkminstan-Iran-Turkey (Natural Gas), Turkmenistan-Azerbaijcan-Georgia-Turkey (Natural Gas), Egypt-Turkey (Natural Gas), Iraq-Turkey (Natural Gas) and Turkey-Greece-Europe (Natural Gas).Turkey has an enviable geopolitical position in terms of energy. that should be put to the best use. The Nabucco Project is perhaps the most crucial building bloc in Turkey?s energy diplomacy.Turkey falls short of making the best use of its own energy resources. The renewable energy resources of Turkey and Russia; energy derived from wind, sun, hot waters and sea waves constitutes a marginal level in the general consumption. Moreover, the fate of boron reserves that Turkey owns is still shrouded in mystery.The USA, the EU, China, Russia and Japan are the crucial actors of the global energy market. Any attempt to realize a big project cannot ignore these actors. At this point, Turkish-Russian cooperation in the energy field comes to the fore. Their energy policies and the activities of their leading organizations have made both countries come closer to each other than ever before. Russia strives to transfer its enengy resources to international markets in the safest way possible. Turkey, on the other hand, aims at tranfering these valuable assets of her neighbours to other countries and thus achieve political and economic gains.Another energy rich region that Turkey attaches importance to is the Central Asia. Having cultural, etnic and historical ties with the Central Asian countries, Turkey wishes to explore the possibilities for cooperation with these countries in the field of energy. Though Turkey is in competition with Russia in the region, she nevertheless strives to bring various energy projects to life.?Eurasian Union? that Turkey forms together with Russia will change all the known balances in the world. Such a formation may evolve into an econonmic, political and cultural union like the European Union. It is certain that such a union will offer great oppurtunities for both countries.