ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses Turkey's regional energy policies from various perspectives. On issues where geography is truly important, Turkey's location has granted her some opportunities and imposed some constraints in the conduct of foreign policies. Turkey's economy is recovering rapidly after the 2001 economic crisis, leading to an increase in the country's energy needs. Although Russian officials have assured Turkey that they will supply excess gas from Blue Stream in case of a decrease from the Western pipeline passing through Ukraine during the crisis, the country's heavy dependence on Russia as an external supplier has created fears once more. Some analysts have been calling the political and economic struggle over the Caspian Basin and Central Asia the 'Second Great Game'. The region's untapped energy resources have attracted the major regional and international actors, primarily the United States, Russia, the European Union (EU), Iran and China, as well as Turkey.
