Turkey’s NATO pipeline bid fuels rivalry with Greece: What to know
Ankara says the project would be faster and cheaper than alternatives, but rival routes could sharpen competition with Greece over eastern flank logistics.
ANKARA — Turkey’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday confirmed Ankara’s proposed NATO fuel pipeline to supply the alliance’s eastern flank, placing Turkey in competition with a Greek-linked alternative.
Details: “It is a standalone project within a capability package designed to strengthen energy supplies for NATO allies on the eastern flank and is currently undergoing approval work within the alliance,” a Defense Ministry official told journalists on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.
The official said the project, if approved, would be funded through NATO common funds and reduce the alliance’s dependence on maritime fuel transportation amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic waterway normally carries roughly a fifth of global oil supplies, but Iran’s de facto blockade of Hurmoz led to major disruptions in the flow.
