The fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” featured a panel discussion titled “Redrawing the Global Energy Map: Security and Uncertainty.”
Moderated by Maria Ramos, anchor at TRT World, the panel brought together Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye; Bojan Kumer, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy of Slovenia; Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan; and Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Addressing the panel, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said: “Our cooperation with Türkiye is an excellent example of how a group of countries, partners, and brotherly states can contribute to energy security. The projects implemented on Azerbaijan’s initiative have connected the Caspian Sea with the Black Sea via the Baku–Supsa pipeline, and with the Mediterranean Sea via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan and Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum pipelines.”
“Furthermore, the 3,500-kilometer Southern Gas Corridor has, for the first time in history, connected the Caspian Sea through seven countries with southern Italy and the Adriatic Sea. This is a clear example of how cooperation should be built to ensure the resilience of the global energy sector and to strengthen energy security,” Shahbazov added.
In his remarks, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar described his country as resilient to geopolitical processes, high energy and commodity prices and surrounding wars.
He emphasized that diversifying energy resources is a priority, adding that Türkiye seeks to expand the use of renewable energy and further develop technologies in wind, solar, and nuclear energy.
Other speakers highlighted recent developments in global energy markets, underscoring the fragility of existing systems. They noted that ongoing geopolitical conflicts, rising trade barriers, and strategic competition have intensified concerns over supply security and price volatility. In this evolving context, ensuring secure, affordable, and sustainable energy has become a shared priority requiring enhanced international cooperation.