Turkey Strengthens Ambition as Energy Powerhouse Through Deals with China, Russia, and Now Syria

With the armed conflict with the PKK coming to an end, Turkey now has the freedom to engage in economic developments in Syria. Syrian interim Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir announced that Damascus and Ankara have reached an agreement for Turkey to supply Syria with six million cubic meters of natural gas daily within three months.

This cooperation comes at a crucial time. Syria remains in an energy crisis due to years of war, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to fuel. The supply to power plants will be facilitated by the construction of a natural gas pipeline connecting the Turkish city of Kilis to Aleppo in northern Syria. In addition to this pipeline, initiatives are also being set up to directly supply electricity to Syria.

Turkey underscores its willingness to cooperate more closely with its neighbor in the energy sector. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared late last year that Turkey 'will do what is necessary to rebuild the new Syria.' Ankara has also expressed interest in collaborating on the reconstruction of Syria's energy network, with an emphasis on alternatives to fossil fuels. Turkey itself has already made significant progress in the field of sustainable energy.

Simultaneously, Turkey is working with Russia on the construction of large nuclear power plants. In 2023, the country's first nuclear power plant was officially opened. Turkey is already dependent on Russian gas, but this will only increase its reliance on the Kremlin. Turkey is trying to maintain warm economic ties with Moscow, and unlike other NATO allies, it does not participate in Western sanctions against Russia.

The New Silk Road also strengthens Turkey's position, as it increasingly profiles itself as an indispensable bridge between Asia and Europe. Through an alternative trade and transport route connecting China via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and Turkey to Europe, the country plays a crucial role in bypassing Russia since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Additionally, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar held talks last year with China's Minister of Natural Resources, Wang Guanghua, to strengthen cooperation in the mining sector. Earlier this year, China also made a multi-million-dollar investment in Turkey for the construction of solar energy systems with storage capacity. The investment involves $244 million from China. The project contributes to Turkey's clean energy goals and is seen as an example for future energy partnerships between China and Turkey.

These energy projects fit within Ankara's broader vision, in which Turkey aims to play a central role as a transit country between gas-producing regions in the east and south and markets in the west.