Turkey has proposed to NATO that it build an energy pipeline to the Alliance’s eastern flank
Turkey has proposed building a new fuel pipeline for NATO’s military needs, which would link Turkey and Romania via Bulgaria. This was reported by Bloomberg sources familiar with the negotiations.
The initiative came following the Alliance’s call to expand the network of military fuel pipelines. Turkey presented its proposal ahead of the NATO summit, which is due to take place in Ankara in July.
According to the sources, the cost of the route through Turkey could be around five times lower than other options already under discussion, notably those via Greece or Romania’s western neighbours. Alternative routes are more vulnerable as they rely on maritime transport.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, including disruptions to energy supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have prompted NATO to strengthen its fuel supply system.
Sources emphasised the importance of a stable and economically viable supply chain for the Alliance’s eastern members.
Turkey is counting on the support of its allies for this project. A decision could be taken before or during the NATO summit.
According to the sources, the future fuel pipeline will not be used for civilian purposes. They did not disclose any further details, particularly regarding capacity, citing the information as classified.
The Turkish Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
The project complements efforts by Eastern European countries, notably Poland and Romania, to extend NATO’s Cold War-era underground fuel pipeline network further east.
The system was created to supply allied forces during wartime and currently extends only as far as Germany.
