Misty Perspectives: Eastern Europe’s Gas Corridors in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape

This chapter focuses on natural gas transport through Eastern Europe, examining how recent geopolitical developments related to the war in Ukraine have reshaped trade patterns between Russia and the European Union. At a time when non-renewable energy still plays a crucial role in global development and daily life, access to these resources is vital for every nation. In this context, Eastern Europe and its gas corridors have proven their strategic relevance over the years, especially after the war in Ukraine began. Given the current circumstances, the question arises whether the region, situated between different civilizations, can consolidate itself as a key bicontinental energy transit hub or if we will witness the decline of Eastern Europe’s gas transit potential. By analysing scientific publications, official state reports, and newspaper articles, the authors identify key factors influencing gas flows, current trends in gas trade, and future implications for the transregional gas market. They explore the effects and the Ukraine war as an indicator of a significant geopolitical shift in gas transit in northern Eastern Europe, provide an overview of the Southern Gas Corridor, examine Turkey’s rising role as a transit hub, and assess potential outcomes in the coming period. Considering the described juncture and its surrounding factors, the authors conclude that the transit potential of Eastern Europe is unlikely to diminish, even if Russian gas exports to the Old Continent do not resume through northern corridors, particularly via Ukraine. They also suggest that stronger regional cohesion and intra-Eastern European cooperation could serve as a pragmatic response to future geopolitical disruptions.