Oil & Gas

The European Union’s bold ambition to eliminate all Russian natural gas imports by 2027 is facing a serious test from outside its borders. While Brussels pushes member states to sever energy ties with Moscow, Turkey is rapidly positioning itself as a major regional gas hub, fueled in large part by Russian supplies. Through the TurkStream pipeline, Russian gas flows under the Black Sea into Turkey and onward to EU countries like Hungary and Slovakia, increasing their dependency just as the EU is trying to cut it. With Turkey now aiming to replace Ukraine as the main transit route for Russian gas, Moscow’s grip on Europe’s energy security could quietly endure despite Brussels’ efforts.

What complicates matters further is the nature of gas itself: it can’t be traced like consumer goods. Even if the EU successfully bans direct imports from Russia, gas bought from Turkey could still originate from Russian fields. Analysts warn that unless affordable alternatives like LNG are scaled up rapidly, the EU’s plan may falter under economic and political pressure. As Turkey strengthens its infrastructure and gas influence, Europe’s energy future may depend not only on its policies but on Ankara’s ambitions.