Abstract:

The emerging multi-polarity requires middle powers to redefine their security understanding. The current energy crisis in Europe after the Russia-Ukraine war put forth the importance of energy security for any international actor. The increased energy requirement of states grows steadily and energy resources have become an important element of foreign policy. Russia, as one of the leading global energy suppliers, has utilized its energy resources as a political tool in the international arena. The recent energy dispute between Russia and the European Union (EU) members confirms Russia's tendency to use energy as a weapon. Turkey has deep and complicated relations with both parties of this energy conflict and Turkey's foreign policy decisions are unavoidably affected by energy security concerns. On the one hand Turkey is a NATO member and a candidate country for the EU. On the other hand, Turkey is highly dependent on Russian energy resources. This paper aims to evaluate the interaction between the energy security concerns of Turkey and its foreign policy choices and argues that energy security has become a new dynamic for the decision-making process of Turkish foreign policy.

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