THE EAST MEDITERRANEAN GAS FORUM: CONVERGENCE OF REGIONAL AND ENERGY SECURITY CONCERNS

Abstract

The East Mediterranean Gas Forum, a nascent regional organization stands at the crossroads of regional cooperation today. Formed in the wake of natural gas discoveries and the resultant bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, the organization has been beset with positive and negative interdependencies in the region. These interdependencies highlight the energy and regional security concerns of the region’s members. As convergences along energy and regional security lines unfold, the foundational structures of the forum have showcased cracks raising questions regarding its relevance. The study thus seeks to examine the dynamics of the international political economy behind the formation of the EMGF by analysing the convergence of energy and regional security concerns of the specific state actors in the region.