Tag: Cyprus

THE ROLE OF ENERGY AS A GEOPOLITICAL FACTOR FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF GREEK-ISRAELI RELATIONS

Ioannis Th. MAZIS

Chair of the Faculty of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas, www.geo-mazis.gr
mazis@her.forthnet.gr

Ioannis P. SOTIROPOULOS

Research Fellow, Laboratory of Geo-cultural Analyses, of the Greater Middle East and Turkey, Faculty of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas
ipshellas@hotmail.com

Abstract

During the current historical coincidence, the geostrategic conjunction of Greece-Cyprus-Israel is a reality, in order for the three states to cope in the best possible manner with the contemporary and future challenges in the arena of international and regional relations.  Having a common strategic perception of the geopolitical sub-system of the south-eastern Mediterranean, Athens, Nicosia and Jerusalem strengthen day by day their political, diplomatic, economic and military relations, aiming at the preservation of stability in the area, against any revisionist factor. For the aforementioned strategic alliance, the discovery, extraction and exploitation of the hydrocarbon neo-reserves within the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli consecutive Exclusive Economic Zones, (EEZs), is the dynamic catalyst that reinforces even further the allied cooperation and effectiveness.  Amidst the geopolitical transformation of the wider region of North Africa, Middle and Near East, the construction of the East Mediterranean Pipeline, (East-Med), is a common pursuit of the outmost significance, for the strategic alliance. Indeed, if the East-Med is realized, it will be able to transfer, in the first phase, the Israeli and Cypriot hydrocarbons from the off-shore neo-reserves via Greek sovereign territory and EEZ to Italy and central Europe, signaling EU’s gradual disengagement from the dependence on the Russian natural gas, allowing the EU to make its first steps of energy emancipation.  Despite Ankara’s attempt for rapprochement with Jerusalem, the official Israeli position heavily leans towards an Israel-Greek-Cypriot strategic alignment, as Israel’s national security constitute the ultimate long-term priority for Jerusalem. Above all, such a development will upgrade the geopolitical status of all the three states of the strategic alliance in the regional geopolitical as well as the supra-geopolitical system.

Keywords: East Mediterranean energy neo-reserves, Levantine Basin, natural gas-field Zohr, East Mediterranean pipeline-(East-Med), south-east Mediterranean geopolitical sub-system, Israel, Cyprus, Greece

JEL classification:
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Geopolitics of Energy in the Kastelorizo-Cyprus-Middle East Complex

Professor Ioannis Th. Mazis
Professor of Economic Geography, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dept of Turkish
and Modern Asian Studies

Dr. Georgios – Alexandros Sgouros
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laboratory of Marine Geo-environment & Sedimentology, Dept. of Geology and Geo environment

Abstract:
The geophysical and geological submarine features (pockmarks, gas chimneys, salt domes, etc).,identified by multi-beam echosounders and sidescan sonars ,seismic surveys in the region South, South-west and South-east of Cyprus, as well as the corresponding international interest of investors, especially in the marine region of the Levantine Basin, lead to the conclusion that, from a geopolitical standpoint, Greece must be urged to accelerate the consolidation of its sovereign rights and understand anew and in practical terms, that “Cyprus is not far away, not at all actually”. With respect to Kastelorizo and the submarine area of its EEZ, we note that detailed geophysical and bathymetric surveys have confirmed the fact that the region of the submarine Anaximander Mountains presents active mud volcanoes that are linked to the presence of gas hydrates. Samples of gas hydrates were collected by means of indicative samplings in mud volcanoes thoroughly mapped in sub-seabed layers that do not exceed 1.5 m. These “ice-crystal” like features will probably have a significant socioeconomic impact in the near feature as an energy resource. New mud volcanoes were also discovered (“Athens” and “Thessaloniki”). Gas hydrates were found in samplings conducted in the “Thessaloniki” M.V. According to preliminary assessments, the total capacity of the mud volcanoes of the Anaximander mountains complex is estimated between 2.56 – 6.40 c. km. read more

Keywords: Geopolitics of Energy, Cyprus, Israel, Levantine, multi-beam echosounders, side scan sonars, pockmarks, gas chimneys, salt domes, Exclusive Economic Zone/EEZ.