Turkey eyes 2026 agreement with Syria for offshore energy exploration
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Monday that Turkey is seeking to conclude a dedicated agreement with Syria in 2026 to launch offshore energy exploration activities.
In an interview with the Turkish news website GDH, Bayraktar explained that Turkey and Syria already have a general framework agreement, but that offshore exploration would require a separate, more detailed deal. He said that they hope to finalize this agreement in 2026.
Bayraktar clarified that signing the agreement would not necessarily mean immediate drilling. He added that once the agreement is in place, seismic surveys may be conducted first to gather data on the geological structure of the area.
Turkey and Syria signed a cooperation agreement in May aimed at expanding and strengthening collaboration in the energy sector. At the time, Bayraktar described the agreement as an important roadmap for future steps in the fields of energy, mining, and hydrocarbons.
Turkey continues to rely heavily on energy imports to meet domestic demand, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly emphasized Ankara’s ambition to achieve greater energy self-sufficiency.
In recent years, Turkey has intensified efforts to explore hydrocarbon resources, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean. In the summer of 2020, Turkish exploration activities in the region triggered tensions with Greece and the European Union.
In August 2020, France deployed two Rafale fighter jets and two naval vessels to the eastern Mediterranean in support of Greece, following the deployment of the Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis in waters disputed between Ankara and Athens.