Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Deniz Araştırmaları ve Mavi Strateji Dergisi, sa..., ss.111, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
The construction of the Baku-Batumi Pipeline was initiated in the late 19th century to transport oil from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to the port of Batumi in Georgia. This pipeline assumed a critical role in regional energy geopolitics by facilitating access to Caspian oil for international markets, contributed to the development of Azerbaijan’s oil industry, and effectively stimulated economic activities in the region. This study aims to analyze the pipeline through historical, economic, and geopolitical dimensions. Within the scope of the research, the construction process between 1883 and 1907, the roles of global actors such as the Nobel Brothers and the Rothschild Family, the Ottoman-Russian-British rivalry (The Great Game), and the impacts of regional energy trade on its integration into the global system were examined. Supported by archival documents, secondary sources, and comparative analysis, the study systematically revealed the pipeline’s transformative impact on the energy geopolitics of the Black Sea. The findings demonstrated that the project transformed Batumi into a global-scale oil terminal, shaped Britain’s strategy for accessing Russian oil resources, and served as a precursor to modern energy projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline and the Trans-Anadolu Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP). Additionally, the resurgence of the Black Sea as an alternative energy corridor in the context of energy security concerns triggered by the Russia-Ukraine War was discussed from a historical continuity perspective. The study concludes with lessons drawn from history for designing sustainable energy policies and proposals for regional cooperation models.