New energy chessboard will be laid in the Middle East, Turkey will bypass Iran and take the pipeline to Europe

News India Live, Digital Desk: Amidst the ongoing military tension and war in the Middle East, Turkey is making a strategic move which can change the map of global energy politics in the future. Turkiye is working on a plan to develop a huge pipeline network, the main objective of which is to completely bypass Iran from the energy supply chain. This plan can not only break Iran’s economic back, but will also establish Turkiye as the biggest ‘hub’ for Europe’s gas and oil needs. From Basra to Europe: Turkiye’s ambitious roadmap Proposed by Turkish Energy Minister Alperslan Bayraktar, the center of this masterplan is Basra, Iraq’s oil-rich southern region. Currently, oil from Kirkuk reaches Turkey’s Ceyhan port through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. Now under the new plan, preparations are being made to expand this network to the Gulf countries, so that the oil and gas of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries can also reach Europe through this route. Qatar-Turkey Gas Pipeline: Dependence on Iran will end. In recent times, the incidents of Iran repeatedly disrupting the gas supply to Turkey and stopping the supply citing technical fault have alerted Ankara. In response to this, Turkey has again put the proposal of Qatar-Turkey gas pipeline on the table. Proposed route: This pipeline will start from Qatar and reach Turkey via Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. Benefit: This will provide Turkey and Europe a stable and alternative gas source, which will eliminate Iran’s power of ‘energy blackmailing’. Trans-Caspian Pipeline: Will change the balance of power. Turkey is planning another big project ‘Trans-Caspian Gas The pipeline is progressing rapidly. Under this plan, Turkmenistan’s huge gas wealth will be transported under the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and then to Europe via Turkey. If this project is successful, then a corridor of energy supply from Central Asia to Europe will be created in which Russia and Iran will have no role. Growing challenges for Iran and the effect of ‘Force Majeure’. Amidst the increasing tension in the Middle East, Qatar Energy has imposed ‘Force Majeure’ (unavoidable circumstances) on many of its long-term LNG contracts, which has deepened the energy crisis in countries like Italy, Belgium and South Korea. In such a situation, Turkey is presenting itself as a safe ‘transit route’. Experts believe that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), can also support Turkey’s plan to isolate Iran economically.