Global Energy Center Founding Director Richard Morningstar writes for Hurriyet on the support and continuation of the Southern Energy Corridor:
Since the early 1990s the United States has been a strong supporter of the Southern Energy Corridor (Southern Corridor), which brings energy resources from the Caspian and Central Asia to Turkey, Europe and the rest of the World. That support began with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and continues today with the Shah-Deniz gas project off the coast of Azerbaijan, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
American policy towards the Southern Corridor has been consistent for more than 20 years through Democratic and Republican Administrations and has received bipartisan support from the Congress. There are several bases underlying this policy. First, the United States has supported increases in the supply of oil and gas from diversified sources and multiple pipelines. Second, American policy encourages the sovereignty and independence of countries in the region, particularly those emerging from the former Soviet Union. Third, the central role of Turkey as a transit country encourages Turkey’s to play a strong role within the region, with which it has strong historical and cultural ties. Fourth, regarding gas, the delivery of gas to Europe will enhance Europe’s energy security and provide another alternative for the purchase of gas.