The government of Azerbaijan has signaled its willingness to participate in advancing the gas center initiative slated for Turkey, as expressed in a recent interview with Anadolu, the Turkish state agency, by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak of the Russian Federation. In that exchange, Novak noted a high level of interest from Turkey and Russia alike, and he indicated that several other nations are also watching developments closely. He pointed out that Azerbaijan has joined the list of interested parties and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in this energy undertaking.
Public discussion of a gas center in Turkey began in October 2022. The conversation intensified in the wake of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 incidents, when momentum grew for redirecting stranded transit capacity toward alternative corridors. In that context, President Vladimir Putin proposed the creation of a gas hub in the Black Sea region that could serve as a central node for energy supplies to European markets, with Turkey as a pivotal platform for facilitating trade and pricing mechanisms. The proposal framed the hub as a conduit for routing energy to Europe and establishing a transparent, electronic trading framework for fuel, with Moscow, Ankara, and other European buyers in mind. Putin suggested that European buyers seeking Russian energy resources should find a ready framework to engage, while acknowledging European reluctance to import Russian gas and critiquing certain eurozone actions as lacking obvious rationale.
Recent developments indicate a concerted effort by Russia and Turkey to intensify discussions and move toward concrete milestones that would enable a formal gas center to take shape. The dialog continues amid broader strategic considerations about energy security, pricing, and supply diversification across the region, with allied and interested states observing closely and weighing their own positions and potential participation. The overarching aim remains to establish a hub that could streamline energy delivery and negotiation, potentially involving electronic trading platforms and standardized contracts, while addressing regulatory and market dynamics across participating countries. This evolving framework underscores the central role of Turkey as a gateway to European markets and Azerbaijan’s growing involvement in regional energy collaboration, as reported by multiple observers and official briefings (Source: Anadolu).