The London Energy Club - Chair
The energy map of the Middle East may be redrawn with the revival of the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline—a move that could sideline Türkiye. Iraq’s decision to bring back to life the pipeline connecting Kirkuk with Syria’s Mediterranean port city of Baniyas is not merely an infrastructure investment; it’s a strategic maneuver capable of shifting the
Türkiye stands at a critical juncture in its political journey. The legal actions, political pressures, and the arrest and imprisonment of İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 23rd yesterday not only aim to block his path to the presidency but are poised to reshape the country’s political landscape in profound ways. This issue, originally
A formal investigation has been launched against Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras, President of the High Advisory Council (YİK) of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), based on the views and criticisms he expressed during the association’s general assembly. Having served in the public sector, international organizations, and now in private industry for many years—witnessing
Despite dozens of agreements and protocols signed over the years between Türkiye and Turkmenistan, we have yet to see the gas molecules flow. However, according to the announcement by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, if no setbacks occur, natural gas from Turkmenistan will begin flowing to Türkiye starting March 1st through a new
Ukraine’s recent attempt to attack the TurkStream pipeline represents an alarming and perilous escalation. The fact that this initiative failed should not bring us comfort; after all, a similar attempt occurred in May 2023, and there is no assurance that future attacks will be thwarted. Should another assault take place, we would find ourselves unable
Milking a cow constantly makes it hard to obtain sufficient and quality milk. Eventually, the cow becomes unwell and can no longer produce milk. The same goes for taxes. Extracting more taxes than citizens, businesses, and institutions can bear may lead to economic instability and injustice. Excessive tax burdens become unsustainable, especially for low-income groups
By Mehmet Öğütçü and Rainer Geiger The Middle East, scarred by years of political instability and economic upheaval, finds itself at a critical juncture. The crises in Syria and Lebanon lay bare the region’s fragility in stark terms. Yet, within this profound crisis lies a unique opportunity to rebuild the Middle East anew. No single
Assad is gone, but I believe toughest challenge for Syria is just beginning. Israel has virtually obliterated the country’s military capabilities and occupied the Golan Heights and surrounding water and agricultural resources. The civil war has crippled infrastructure and production facilities. The Sunni majority, fractured into dozens of factions, has claimed power and prayed in
As a diplomat, businessman, and traveler, I have visited 135 countries. In many of them, I have lived and worked, observing different cultures, languages, social structures, and lifestyles firsthand. I reflected on these experiences in my book Life is a Journey. Wherever I went, the reality I encountered was the same: a large portion of
Like many others, I have been watching Türkiye’s policies regarding immigrants, refugees, and foreigners, especially the citizenship process, with growing concern for a long time. The lack of transparency, ambiguous statistics, and the failure to clearly articulate the purpose of the pursued policies have transformed this process into one of the worst examples in the