Development of Natural Gas Resources in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the First Quarter of the Twenty-first Century: A Study in Political Geography

Document Type : scientific research and articles

Authors

1 Department of Geography and GIS, Faculty of Arts, Port Said University, Egypt.

2 Department of Geography and GIS, Faculty of Arts, Menoufia University, Egypt.

Abstract

The recent discoveries of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean Area by Egypt and Israel from 2009 to 2022 have had significant geopolitical, financial, economic, and strategic implications. These discoveries have bolstered the economic status of both nations, granting them a regional role in the natural gas market and increasing their influence, potentially altering the balance of power among other Eastern Area countries. Moreover, these developments have reshaped the dynamics of conflicts in the region, including disputes between Lebanon and Israel, and Turkey and Cyprus over maritime boundaries, as well as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The political, economic, and military rapprochement between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, exemplified by the 2016 summit in Nicosia, sought to establish a new geopolitical entity in the Eastern Mediterranean and strengthen the naval presence of these three nations, alongside Russia and the U.S., both of which maintain fleets in the region. This situation necessitates that Egypt and Israel bolster their naval capabilities to safeguard energy infrastructure against potential threats. Each nation strives to secure its maritime energy interests, define its exclusive economic zones, and increase the number of warships and helicopters to ensure energy security, which has become a key element in the national security equation for the region.

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Journal of Sustainable Development in Social and Environmental Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
(March, 2025)
March 2025
Pages 190-212

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