September 2010
John Van Pool
EGF Turkey Geopolitics Analyst

Key positions:

• British Prime Minster David Cameron’s recent speech to the Turkish Parliament, which gave strong support for Ankara’s EU membership bid, is likely to have caused more reaction from European national leaders had it been delivered in Brussels 


• Last month’s agreement between Chevron and Turkish Petroleum to explore two deep-water wells in the Black Sea is a reflection of the Turkish government’s efforts to make the country self sufficient in oil and gas production by 2023 


• Italian energy company ENI has attempted to reach a compromise for its role in the competing Nabucco and South Stream pipelines by reaching an agreement with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in which compressed natural gas reserves will be transported by ship across the Caspian Sea, which will provide supplies to both pipelines without alienating either project’s backers. 


• Turkey’s National Security Policy Document (also known as the ‘Secret Constitution’), which is due to be reviewed shortly, will identify energy security as the country’s most pressing strategic issue, and will remove Russia, amongst other neighbours, from the countries it would consider as potential enemies. READ MORE

• September 6, 2010

American knowledge of Russia's nuclear capabilities will dwindle if a new nuclear arms treaty with Moscow is not ratified, the chief U.S. negotiator argued as a Senate panel on Friday scheduled a vote on the document.

• September 4, 2010

China’s policy towards Iran, especially with respect to nuclear proliferation, and its reported sale of solid-fuel missiles to Saudi Arabia, are further indicators of China’s global strategy to challenge what it perceives as declining US power.

• September 3, 2010

Ukraine is willing to give Russia joint control of a pipeline to southeastern Europe in exchange for access to natural gas supplies, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said as the country’s negotiate a gas venture.

• September 3, 2010

The Foreign Ministry said Thursday it has set up a task force to examine Japan’s policies concerning the North Pole, as melting ice due to global warming opens the door to increased ship navigation and chances for resource development in the Arctic sea.

• September 3, 2010

A delegation of Pakistani military officials decided to cancel a meeting this week with U.S. military officials in protest after they were taken off a plane and questioned at Washington's Dulles International Airport, according to a Pakistani official.

• September 2, 2010

US President Barack Obama has urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders not to let the chance of a permanent peace deal "slip away".

• September 2, 2010

The US has been pointing a finger at China, directly or indirectly, over the past several months, especially over issues involving China's relations with its neighbors. The devastating floods in Pakistan have given it another opportunity to prod China.

• September 2, 2010