Abstract:

In this article, when it comes to the Balkans, it is claimed that historically the power struggle between the Austrian-Russian-Ottoman Empires reappeared through the geopolitics of the natural gas pipeline in the 21st century. A series of pipeline projects developed by various stakeholders with different strategic interests have entered into a strong competition with each other to transport Azerbaijan gas to the countries of Southeast Europe (Balkan). From this competition, after the preference made by the Shah Sea Consortium, TANAP and TAP natural gas pipeline projects have won. In the process of the three-party energy diplomacy between the EU-Russia-Turkey, Russia and Turkey are moving parallel to each other’s positions, while the lost in the competition project NABUCCO and Austria have become the central EU countries.