Officials, experts discuss energy security in Istanbul

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Officials and experts have gathered in Istanbul for a summit to discuss energy security and related issues.

The Turkish Atlantic Security Conference: Black Sea Energy Supply Security Summit is a three-day event which started on Wednesday with a reception and dinner, with sessions scheduled on Thursday and Friday.

Several topics including regional cooperation, energy dependency, Türkiye's importance in energy security and strategic mineral security are being discussed.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, the deputy foreign minister of Türkiye, said oil, atrocities in Gaza, global economic developments, inflationary pressures, aging populations, green economy transition and digitalization, and pursuit of new trade routes make necessary to strengthen regional and global connectivity, energy and food security.

All states are concentrating on energy and food security priorities in their foreign policies currently, he said.

Bozay argued that the Black Sea is an important region in many aspects, especially in terms of security, energy, and connectivity.