Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Erdogan, stated that every pathway for supplying gas and oil to Europe would involve Turkey in some capacity, underscoring that Turkey has not ruled out participating in multiple supply routes after his country declined to purchase from Russia. He shared these remarks during a briefing, signaling Ankara’s intention to remain an active mediator within European energy security strategy. The briefing was disseminated by TASS, the Russian news agency, and Kalin’s commentary has since been cited in ongoing discussions about Europe’s energy diversification goals.
Kalin outlined that Europe is pursuing two main options to replace Russian crude and gas, should the continent move away from Russian supplies. One route involves sustainment of gas flows from Azerbaijan into Turkey, a corridor that could potentially extend further into the EU as part of a regional energy network. The other option centers on leveraging energy resources from the Eastern Mediterranean, a region already under particular emphasis for its potential gas reserves and strategic significance. These alternatives point to a broader shift in European energy sourcing and infrastructure planning, with Turkey positioned as a pivotal transit country along new or expanded routes.
Earlier assessments noted that Turkey, along with nations such as China and India, appeared to benefit from the EU embargo on Russian oil by capitalizing on discounted pricing or favorable terms in the shifting market landscape. Analysts from the Energy Development Fund have suggested that Russian crude may continue to reach certain regions at a reduced price, while others would process Russian petroleum products through refineries that apply specific discount rates. This dynamic could influence how different markets respond to sanctions, with countries balancing affordability, supply reliability, and strategic energy importance as they recalibrate their import strategies. These observations come from sector researchers who track how sanctions and price differentials reshape global oil flows and regional dependencies. [Energy Development Fund assessment by industry analysts]