Energy discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean: conflict or cooperation?
Author
Grigoriadis, Ioannis N.
Date
2014Source Title
Middle East Policy
Print ISSN
1061-1924
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Volume
21
Issue
3
Pages
124 - 133
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
The discovery of oil and naturalgas
reserves in the Middle East
at the beginning of the twentieth
century changed the fate of the
region. From a backwater of international
politics, the Middle East became central
to international strategic rivalries. Almost
a century later, energy discoveries in the
Eastern Mediterranean are unlikely to
bring about such tectonic shifts in the strategic
fortunes of the Levant. Yet they have
generated a fresh interest in their potential
impact on existing regional disputes and
power constellations.
The recent discovery of sizable quantities
of natural gas in the seabed between
Israel and Cyprus has added to the complexity
of international politics in the
region. Cyprus and Israel are expected to
be the first two states to benefit, as they
have already signed large contracts for
exploration and drilling projects that would
soon turn them into net energy exporters.
The possibility of discovering further
energy reserves has revived the question of
delineating the exclusive economic zones
(EEZs) of all littoral states in the Eastern
Mediterranean and added one potential
regional dispute. Turkey’s role has been
important, not only because it is one of the
region’s littoral states and a large energy
importer, but also because it could serve as
a transport hub for the delivery of extracted
hydrocarbons to the world market.
Nevertheless, the Cyprus question, disputes
over the delineation of the EEZ and
Turkey’s frozen relations with Israel have
deterred regional cooperation, despite the
positive effect that it could have, not least
for European energy security.