Nurşin Ateşoğlu Güney

Türkiye’s latest success, in bringing the warring sides of Ukraine and Russia to an agreement on the export of grain out of Ukraine’s ports, is due to Ankara’s long time rational strategy of having access to both capitals by keeping the dialog open even during times of conflict. At last, the newly signed grain deal is going to be effective in helping to avert the anticipated worldwide food shortages. This commentary aims to understand the details of this grain deal by focusing first on the Turkish diplomacy that has been on track before and during the Ukraine war, with the Russian and Ukrainian governments.

Following the publication of the Winter 2021 special issue "New Geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean," Insight Turkey coordinated the panel called Energy Equation in the Eastern Mediterranean as a follow-up event. The panel, which was held online due to the COVD-19 pandemic, was broadcast live on YouTube and other social media platforms.

The new Cold War has arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean. At the strategic level, Chinese economic and Russian military assertiveness have led the U.S. to think twice about its mistakes, which opened up a power vacuum in this strategic geopolitical realm. Until today, the U.S. has seemed to use three axes of alliances that have emerged as Israeli-based, flexible, and benefit-oriented alignments at the level of regional rivalry. These alignments, especially in the context of the Abraham Accords, are unfortunately expected to reinforce pre-existing divisions in the region unless a radical change occurs. This study examines how and why Washington must embrace the logic of alliance axes to shape the Eastern Mediterranean and explores the projected impact of the U.S.-initiated Abraham Accords on regional geopolitics.

Since the beginning of the 2000s the global energy landscape has undergone constant change. Various factors have affected both the demand and supply sides of the global energy security outlook. As a result, both consumer and producer states have constantly felt the need to adapt to emergent market conditions. Hence, this paper first aims to highlight the continuous changes within the global energy market and simultaneously present and evaluate Turkey’s determined search to fulfill the requirements of its energy supply security strategy.

The Arab Spring gave rise to a variety of transitions in the Middle East. Although initial developments in Tunisia and Egypt created optimism, tragic events in Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and elsewhere revived fears about a return to authoritarian governments, failed states and civil war. With no foreseeable change in the UN Security Council with regard to Syria, the country’s neighbors, including Turkey, face the risk of instability. Although a recent agreement between the US and Russia marked a major step toward destrying the regime‘s chemical stockpile, it fails to address the conflict itself. As such, spillover effects continue to threaten Syria‘s neighbors. This paper highlights the critical nature of the situation and the international community‘s role in finding a solution.