An Israel–Turkey natural gas pipeline: inter-connection of commercial and geopolitical logic

Journal article

The export of natural gas from Israel’s Leviathan field, the world’s largest discovery during the past decade, could have a significant and positive geopolitical impact on the Middle East. A pipeline connecting Leviathan to the Turkish market, the most commercially efficient export option, could help resurrect a strategic partnership dedicated to regional prosperity and stability between Israel and Turkey.

Such a pipeline could, if coupled with political will and diplomatic deftness, also help Cyprus finance a liquefaction facility to export its own significant natural gas reserves from its offshore Aphrodite field. These optimistic scenarios require political breakthroughs that seem out of reach today. However, a modest amount of political re-alignment could enable their realization, which could then catalyse new political momentum toward a negotiated Cyprus settlement and broader stability in the Middle East.

Authors: Bryza, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
• Journal: Oxford Energy Forum
• Volume: 93
• Pages: 10-12
• Publication date: 2013-08-01
• Edition: Publisher's version
• ISSN: 0959-7727
• Language: English
• Keywords: OIES