Why Türkiye’s New Gas Deal With Egypt Could Redraw the East Med Map?

Türkiye’s energy ambitions are taking a major leap. A new natural gas discovery in the Black Sea pushes the country’s total reserves to 785 billion cubic meters. That’s more than just energy security; it’s a bid for regional influence. Ankara says it’s not just cutting dependence on imports, it wants to become an energy exporter. And its diplomacy is keeping pace. A recent deal with Egypt includes the first overseas deployment of a Turkish floating storage and regasification unit, a significant strategic move in the East Med. President Erdoğan unveiled the latest 75 bcm find, enough to power Turkish homes for over three years. But unlocking that potential depends on Black Sea stability. With the Russia-Ukraine war still raging, Türkiye is doubling down on diplomacy, pushing for a ceasefire to secure shipping lanes and protect both gas and grain exports. Can this natural gas boom, along with new energy partnerships, elevate Türkiye’s role as a regional powerbroker? Guests: Thomas O’Donnell Energy and Geopolitical Analyst Aura Sabadus Senior Journalist at ICIS Oktay Tanrisever Professor at METU