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Türkiye announced Wednesday that it had proposed a “NATO Fuel Pipeline Project” aimed at strengthening energy supply security along NATO’s eastern flank.
The announcement was made by the Turkish Defense Ministry’s Press and Public Relations Office during the question-and-answer session of a press briefing held in Seferihisar as part of the Distinguished Observer Day activities of the EFES-2026 Exercise.
According to the ministry, the proposed project is intended to enhance energy supply security for NATO members on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The initiative also aims to reduce dependence on maritime fuel transportation at a time of heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials said the project could be implemented more rapidly than alternative options and would be around five times more cost-effective.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy transit route linking Gulf producers with international markets and has faced increased security risks following recent tensions involving the United States and Iran.
Regional tensions escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February, followed by retaliatory Iranian attacks targeting Israel and U.S. allies in the Gulf, as well as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Separately, the ministry said air defense deployments were continuing in coordination with allied countries and that the regional security environment was being closely monitored.
The ministry announced that one of the two additional Patriot air defense systems assigned by NATO amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict would be replaced by Germany.
“In addition to the Spanish Patriot air defense system currently deployed in our country, one of the two additional Patriot systems assigned by NATO due to the conflict between the U.S. and Israel and Iran will be replaced by Germany,” the ministry said.
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The replacement is expected to be completed in June, with the system planned to remain deployed for approximately six months.
The ministry added that the process would continue in coordination with allies based on current security assessments.
Germany had earlier announced the deployment of a Patriot air defense system and around 150 personnel to Türkiye beginning in late June.
German Ambassador to Türkiye Sibylle Katharina Sorg said Monday the deployment was intended to reinforce NATO’s southeastern flank following recent regional tensions.
The announcement coincided with the third meeting of the Türkiye-Germany Strategic Dialogue Mechanism in Berlin between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the first session of the mechanism in 12 years.
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