Türkiye could play a pivotal role in addressing Slovakia’s energy needs following the suspension of Russian gas flows through Ukraine, experts suggest. As Slovakia faces mounting economic pressure from soaring gas prices and lost transit revenues, Türkiye offers a viable alternative for securing natural gas supplies.
The halt in gas flows began earlier this year when a transit agreement between Kyiv and Moscow expired, and Ukraine refused to renew it. The decision was part of Ukraine’s efforts to curtail energy revenue flowing to Russia during its ongoing invasion.
Slovak officials, citing economic strain, have turned to Türkiye for support. During a recent visit to Ankara, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico held discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan pledged to mediate with Russia on Slovakia’s behalf, instructing the Turkish foreign minister to engage with Russian officials and indicating plans for direct talks with President Vladimir Putin.
“Let’s reach a conclusion on Slovakia’s natural gas needs,” Erdoğan stated during a joint news conference. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed that discussions with Slovak officials are underway, with Slovakia’s economy minister set to visit Türkiye next week for further negotiations.
Türkiye’s Strategic Role
Experts highlight Türkiye’s unique position as a potential energy lifeline for Slovakia. Takafumi Yanagisawa, an executive analyst at Japan’s Institute of Energy Economics, emphasized Türkiye’s diplomatic ties with Russia and its ability to serve as an alternative energy route. Yanagisawa noted that natural gas accounts for 20% of Slovakia’s energy consumption, with over 60% still sourced from Russia.
Türkiye could bolster its gas supply to Europe, compensating for the disruption caused by the halted Ukrainian pipeline. Expanding pipeline capacities, such as the TurkStream pipeline that currently delivers gas to Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary, could provide a critical link to Slovakia.
Cooperation and Infrastructure Needs
Büşra Zeynep Özdemir, a researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), pointed out that Slovakia imported 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2023, with 94% transiting through Ukraine. Slovakia’s domestic consumption stands at approximately 4-4.5 billion cubic meters, while the remainder is delivered to Austria and Poland.
Özdemir suggested two potential routes for Türkiye to assist Slovakia: leveraging the TurkStream pipeline to transport Russian gas via Hungary or increasing LNG exports. However, infrastructure upgrades, including expanded pipeline capacity and enhanced interconnectors, would be essential to meet Slovakia’s gas demands.
She further proposed a bilateral gas export agreement between Türkiye and Slovakia, building on Türkiye’s growing role as a regional energy hub. In 2024, Türkiye significantly increased natural gas exports using LNG terminals, supplying gas to neighboring countries.
Regional and Diplomatic Implications
Slovakia’s energy challenges come amid broader geopolitical tensions. Fico has warned of cutting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine and reducing aid for Ukrainian refugees if the gas transit issue remains unresolved. His recent visit to Moscow to negotiate directly with Putin, bypassing Kyiv, has drawn criticism from Ukraine.
Türkiye’s involvement could not only stabilize Slovakia’s energy supply but also strengthen its ambitions as a key player in Europe’s energy diversification. For Slovakia, securing a reliable gas source through Türkiye could mitigate economic strain and reduce dependency on volatile transit routes.