In this episode of Radio Revolt, host Fatih Kalkan delves into one of the most intricate  geopolitical regions in the world, which is the East Mediterranean. Once the energy sources first found in the early 1990s, the region expected to become a potential hub for peace and cooperation through shared energy resources, contrarily, the region has instead become an arena for growing competition and mistrust among neighbouring states

Diverging national interests, exclusionary energy projects such as the EastMed pipeline, and the failure of liberal internationalist approaches have turned energy from a peace-building opportunity into a source of conflict. Countries like Turkey, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus have become entangled in a web of disputes over maritime borders, exclusive economic zones, and security alliances.

To unpack these complex layers, Kalkan is joined by Prof. Zuhal Mert Uzuner from Marmara University, an expert in Greek–Turkish relations and East Mediterranean politics. Together, they explore the geopolitical narratives driving the region — from the centrality of the Cyprus question and the breakdown of Turkish–Israeli cooperation to the growing strategic autonomy debate surrounding Turkey’s Blue Homeland (Mavi Vatan) doctrine.

The conversation examines how geography, history, and national identity shape regional rivalries: why the Black Sea remains relatively stable while the Mediterranean faces perpetual tension; how schoolbooks, media, and literature reinforce national myths; and why every decade brings a new crisis without resolving the old ones. Through these discussions, the programme offers listeners a nuanced understanding of how energy, identity, and strategic ambition intersect to redefine power politics in the East Mediterranean.