Power talks: Türkiye builds energy bridges with regional partners at Antalya Forum
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C - R) and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (C - L) hold a meeting as part of the 4th edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025) in Antalya, Turkiye on Apr. 12, 2025. (AA Photo)
During the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar joined President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of bilateral meetings held on Saturday, where energy cooperation and investment opportunities were high on the agenda with counterparts from Syria, Bulgaria, Sudan, Georgia, and Somalia.
In statements shared on X, Bayraktar said that talks with Syrian President Ahmed Shara focused on efforts to restore the country’s devastated energy infrastructure, noting that strengthening this infrastructure is seen as crucial to supporting the return to normal life in affected areas.
“In this context, we aim to rebuild the energy infrastructure in the regions in need with a multidimensional approach ranging from electricity transmission to natural gas supply,” Bayraktar said.
Joint efforts with Bulgaria to expand European energy reach
Bayraktar added that the delegation-level talks between President Erdogan and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov focused on enhancing bilateral energy cooperation and launching joint projects to strengthen regional energy supply security.
“During the meeting, we emphasized the cooperation opportunities between Türkiye and Bulgaria in the field of energy and discussed joint projects that will contribute to regional energy supply security,” Bayraktar said.
“We believe that the strategic partnerships we will develop in the field of energy will provide significant gains for both countries as well as the European energy market.”
Mining focus in Sudan talks
Bayraktar also attended the meeting between President Erdogan and Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. According to the minister, the two countries aim to build on their long-standing and multifaceted ties through development-driven projects in energy and mining.
“We will continue our efforts to utilize the potential of the two countries with concrete steps to be taken at the technical level,” he added.
Advancing Türkiye-Georgia energy integration
In the meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Bayraktar noted that Türkiye and Georgia reviewed actionable steps to deepen energy cooperation through multilateral projects aligned with regional integration goals.
Bayraktar emphasized that both countries play complementary roles in energy transition and supply security, stating that they are ready to establish a more robust and strategic partnership within the region’s energy landscape.
“Türkiye and Georgia are ready to build a stronger and more strategic partnership on the regional energy map,” Bayraktar said.
Türkiye-Somalia energy ties enter new chapter
On April 10, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed signed an onshore hydrocarbon exploration and production agreement in Ankara. The deal grants Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) the right to explore for oil and gas across three land blocks covering approximately 16,000 square kilometers in Somalia.
Speaking about the talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Bayraktar said that the Türkiye-Somalia energy partnership is being developed on solid foundations, shaped by the shared vision of both leaders.
“With our ongoing offshore hydrocarbon exploration efforts and the Onshore Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Agreement signed on April 10, our strategic alliance is set to reach a new level,” Bayraktar remarked.
