Turkish and Eurasian Studies Laboratory Conference
“Strategy and Energy: Conflict and Common Interests in Eurasia”
Aikaterini Laskaridi Foundation and University of Piraeus, May 13th – 14th, 2019
On the 13th and 14th of May 2019, the Turkish and Eurasian Studies Laboratory of the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus held an academic conference on the topic of “Strategy and Energy: Conflict and Common Interests in Eurasia”. The conference took place in the “Historical Library” of the Aikaterini Laskaridi Foundation during the first day and in the University of Piraeus Conference Hall during the second day.
On the 13th and 14th of May 2019, the Turkish and Eurasian Studies Laboratory of the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus held an academic conference on the topic of “Strategy and Energy: Conflict and Common Interests in Eurasia”. The conference took place in the “Historical Library” of the Aikaterini Laskaridi Foundation during the first day and in the University of Piraeus Conference Hall during the second day.
The welcome speech was made by the Rector of the University of Piraeus Professor A. Kotios and the Director of the TES Laboratory Assistant Professor N. Raptopoulos. The Dean of the School of Economics, Business and International Studies Professor M. Sfakianakis also made a welcome speech at the beginning of the second day of the conference.
The two-day conference had three sessions per day. The speakers were esteemed Professors, teaching staff, researchers, journalists and experts as well as student researchers of the TES Laboratory. Professors, researchers, journalists, students and the public attended the conference.
In the first session entitled, “Strategy and Energy in a Changing International Environment”, which was comprised of Professors of the University of Piraeus, the speakers analyzed in depth the consequences of Big Powers’ competition in Eurasia and how that relates to the emerging multipolar international system on one hand and the role of energy in the region on the other. More specific issues such as Greece’s role in Europe’s energy security and Turkey’s energy strategy were also touched upon.
The second session entitled “Energy Security and Diplomacy: the international factor and Eastern Mediterranean” examined issues such as US involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean and how it relates to energy. Moreover, they spoke about the importance of energy security in Southeast Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the European Union in general. Additionally, they reiterated that one important aspect of energy security and diplomacy in the region is the security of energy supplies and infrastructure.
The third session focused on “Calculation, Delimitation and Prevision of Energy Issues”. Firstly, the speakers analyzed the strategic characteristics of Eastern Mediterranean energy resources. In addition, the EastMed project was thoroughly mentioned in relation to energy policy provisions. Lastly, the aspect of mass media, journalism and State image projections were analyzed in conjunction with energy issues.
As for the fourth session, entitled “Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East”, the speakers examined the reasoning behind Turkey’s foreign policy and its consequences in the region. Some specific cases mentioned were the conflict between Turkey and the USA in sectors such as economy and security in the Middle East and Turkey’s counterbalance policies in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. Ankara’s policy and role in the Syrian conflict was extensively analyzed, especially taking into account the fact that it simultaneously is an issue of conflict and common interests. Last but not least, the role of the Nationalist Action Party in forming Turkish foreign policy was examined.
For the fifth session the speakers talked about “International Economic and Energy Affairs”. Russian and Chinese energy policy play an important role in forming cooperative or conflicting relations in Central Asia. Consequently, US-Iran relations and the economic sanctions imposed on Iran’s oil industry is something to take into account when talking about energy relations in the region. Azerbaijan’s emerging energy strategy and power is also something not to be omitted from these analyses. Lastly, Turkey’s hydrocarbons research plans in the Eastern Mediterranean are equally important so as to comprehend the distribution of power in the region.
Last but not least, the sixth session, entitled “Global energy challenges: geopolitics and market trends” provided us with insight on natural gas and rare earth elements (REE) comparing said resources in China, Japan, Ukraine and Russia. Moreover, the speakers examined the potential of renewable energy resources in Arabic countries as they finished up with a modelization of natural gas market trends in the European Union.
Despoina Tsimprikidou
Head of PR Unit, TES Lab