The Turkish President has recently made two significant moves which have caught the attention of both local and global media. Firstly, he reconverted the Chora museum into a mosque, making it the second museum after Hagia Sophia to undergo such transformation. Secondly, a new gas field was discovered in the Black Sea, marking the largest natural gas find in Turkey’s history. Both events are expected to greatly impact various aspects of Turkish society and politics.
The Chora Museum
Originally constructed in 534 AD during the early Byzantine era as a church, the Chora Museum is known for its rich history. Its interior walls, pillars, and domes were decorated with an extensive range of mosaics and frescoes depicting biblical stories in the 11th century.
After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, the then capital of the Roman Empire, in 1453, the church was converted into a mosque in 1501. However, it was transformed into a museum in 1945. The Chora Museum is also referred to as Kariye in Turkish and the medieval Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.
The Reason for Reconversion
The reconversion of the museum into a mosque marks the Turkish President’s pro-Islamic policies. These policies highlight Turkey’s Ottoman history and domestic achievements while de-emphasizing Western ideas and influences. Notably, the Turkish President aims to solidify his leadership in the Muslim world through these pro-Islamic policies. As part of these strategies, the Turkish President has taken anti-India positions, especially regarding the Kashmir issue.
Furthermore, the reconversion is perceived as a counter-response to the USA’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. This move is believed to be an attempt to gain the support of Arab countries, given the increasing hostility of Jerusalem’s Arab-Muslim population over the USA’s recent stance on the Israel-Palestine issue.
Discovery of Gas Field in Black Sea
In another significant development, Turkey recently discovered a massive natural gas field in the Black Sea. With an estimated capacity of 320 billion cubic meters, this find is the largest in the country’s history. The gas field is set to become functional by 2023 and bolsters Turkey’s ambition to become a net energy exporter.
The discovery significantly impacts Turkey’s dependence on Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan for energy imports. This shift could also transform Turkey’s chronic current account deficit. Any decrease in the country’s energy import bill would potentially strengthen its finances and recovery of the Lira, its national currency, against the dollar.
Strained Relations with Greece
The discovery of the gas field occurs amidst escalating tensions between Turkey and its neighbor, Greece, over the exploration of natural resources in the Mediterranean Sea. The outcome of these tensions and the impact of the gas field discovery on these relations remain to be seen.
