By: middle east

Turkey is advancing plans for offshore energy exploration in cooperation with Syria, with a specific agreement expected to be signed in 2026. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that the deal would allow for seismic surveys along the Syrian coast to evaluate potential hydrocarbon resources, though drilling activities are not yet confirmed.

This follows a broader energy cooperation framework signed earlier in 2025, which has already facilitated significant infrastructure projects between the two countries. Key initiatives include a natural gas pipeline linking Kilis in Turkey to Aleppo in Syria—completed in June 2025—which will supply Syria with two billion cubic meters of gas annually, supporting around 1,300 megawatts of electricity generation.

The partnership also encompasses a 400-kilovolt transmission line to connect the two countries’ power grids by early 2026, and plans for large-scale natural gas and solar power plants in Syria through a consortium involving Turkish, Qatari, and American firms.

The deepening energy collaboration reflects Turkey’s growing role in post-conflict Syria. However, the prospect of joint offshore exploration may escalate tensions with Greece and Cyprus, who have previously contested Turkey’s maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.