Özet:

The Eastern Mediterranean, where ancient civilizations and Abrahamic religions have emerged, hosts deep-rooted political, social, and cultural issues as well. The region occupies the world agenda with recently discovered hydrocarbon resources and the disputes between the countries on the sharing of the exclusive economic zones and the transmission of the natural gas to international markets. In 2018, the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) as a cooperation platform for the operation of Eastern Mediterranean natural gas resources came to the agenda. In terms of international relations, this study aims to examine the Forum's potential to improve cooperation and serve energy security per its founding purpose. This examination will be based on the statements given by the relative authorities and the published declarations. In this context, firstly, the region's hydrocarbon potential was examined, and its importance in the world hydrocarbon resources was mentioned in this study. Export projects that will transport the natural gas to international markets, which is one of the main factors in the formation of EMGF, the establishment objectives of EMGF, the approaches of the actors who are members of the Forum, outside the Forum and outside the region, towards the EMGF were analyzed, and EMGF's effect on energy security was evaluated.

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