Turkey plans to conclude a specific agreement with Syria in 2026 to initiate offshore energy exploration. The initiative, announced by Turkish Minister of Energy Alparslan Bayraktar, follows the diplomatic and energy alignment between the two countries established during 2025.
A bilateral framework in preparation for offshore operations
The Turkish minister stated that although a general framework agreement already exists with Syria, a separate legal document will be required to initiate offshore operations. Negotiations aim to establish a binding text allowing for preliminary seismic studies before any drilling decision. These geophysical surveys, the starting point for offshore projects, assess the geological structure of the seabed to evaluate hydrocarbon potential.
Bayraktar clarified that drilling activities are unlikely to begin before the specific agreement is signed. Initial operations will likely focus on technical assessments to gather the necessary data for a potential exploratory drilling programme.
Energy partnership launched in May 2025
An energy cooperation agreement was signed between Turkey and Syria in May 2025 in Damascus, covering energy, mining and hydrocarbons. Since the signature, several joint projects have been implemented, including the delivery of Azerbaijani gas to Syria through Turkey. These shipments, launched in the summer of 2025 via the Turkish province of Kilis, are part of Ankara’s efforts to support the reconstruction of Syria’s energy infrastructure.
The country’s infrastructure remains severely damaged after more than a decade of conflict, posing both logistical challenges and opportunities for regional technical cooperation.
Uncertain geological potential off the Syrian coast
The Syrian maritime zone lies on the edge of the Levant Basin, a region in the eastern Mediterranean where several major gas discoveries have been made in recent years off the coasts of Israel, Cyprus and Egypt. A 2010 study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the basin could contain an average of 122 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered technically recoverable gas, along with 1.7 billion barrels of oil.
In Syria, offshore exploration has remained limited. A 2013 agreement between the Syrian government and Russian company Soyuzneftegaz failed to yield commercially viable results, with operations suspended due to war and international sanctions.
Eastern Mediterranean remains a sensitive area
Turkey’s growing involvement in the eastern Mediterranean adds to an energy policy characterised by heavy import dependency, with around 70% of its energy needs met through foreign sources. Despite domestic discoveries in the Black Sea, Ankara continues to pursue regional expansion strategies.
In 2020, diplomatic tensions erupted between Turkey and Greece, backed by France, following Turkish exploration plans in contested maritime zones. The deployment of the Oruç Reis research vessel triggered a military response involving Rafale fighter jets and French naval vessels. The offshore project with Syria may renew debates over maritime boundaries and exploitation rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
