Turkey’s Hunt for Energy and Influence Sparks Global Deal Drive
Ankara is signing exploration agreements across continents
Fatih, one of Turkey’s deepwater drillships, docked at Zonguldak in the Black Sea in 2023.
Photographer: Rasit Aydogan/Anadolu/Getty Images
From US natural gas to Southeast Asian oil and and uranium in Sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey is on a global hunt for energy and commodities, leveraging its growing foreign policy clout for an edge in the competition for resources.
Ankara’s push is going full speed this year, with exploration deals signed on three continents – the latest just last week in Oman – and specialist ships secured to back them. Meanwhile, state gas company Botas is preparing for a new role as an international trader.