Qatar is a key partner in advancing regional and global energy security, with energy cooperation serving as a strategic pillar of Qatar-Turkiye relations, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Bayraktar said energy cooperation has become a strategic pillar of Qatar-Turkiye relations, underpinned by Qatar's vast LNG production and export capacity and Turkiye's extensive infrastructure for importing, storing, transporting and regasifying natural gas. He said Turkiye's drive to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce dependence on any single supplier or geographic route creates significant scope for expanding cooperation with Qatar, particularly through LNG supply arrangements ranging from long-term contracts to more flexible commercial models. Bayraktar said previous LNG transactions between Turkiye's state-owned Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and Qatar provide a proven foundation for taking bilateral energy cooperation to a broader level in the period ahead. He also pointed to Turkiye's strategic geographic position and its gas infrastructure as creating additional opportunities for trade and investment, particularly in receiving and redirecting energy supplies to regional markets. "Turkiye is continuously exploring opportunities to strengthen partnerships with energy-producing countries," Bayraktar said, stressing that closer cooperation is aimed at advancing shared interests while reinforcing the security, reliability and stability of energy supplies. The Turkish minister stressed that geopolitical developments in the Middle East have a direct bearing on global energy markets, with energy security closely intertwined with maritime security, freedom of navigation and regional stability. Bayraktar said the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical arteries for global energy trade, warning that any disruption to maritime traffic could reverberate across international markets, affecting not only oil and gas flows, but also shipping and insurance costs and energy prices, with wider implications for supply chains, inflation and economic growth. He said Turkiye views energy security as a strategic imperative, requiring diversified sources of supply and multiple transportation and storage routes. Investments in LNG infrastructure, storage capacity and diversified import channels in recent years, he added, have significantly strengthened the resilience and flexibility of Turkiye's energy system. Turning to climate policy, Bayraktar said Turkiye expects the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), to be held in Antalya from November 9 to 20, to mark a decisive shift from climate commitments to implementation, with concrete, financeable and actionable measures, particularly in clean-energy investment and energy infrastructure. He said global energy challenges -- from price volatility and geopolitical tensions to supply-chain disruptions -- have underscored that energy security is no longer simply an economic concern, but a fundamental pillar of national security and political and economic stability. Bayraktar said Turkiye believes the transition must strike a balance between three core priorities: securing energy supplies, maintaining economic competitiveness and cutting carbon emissions. The shift toward clean energy, he stressed, must not come at the expense of affordable energy for households and industry. Bayraktar said Turkiye's energy strategy through 2040 aims to raise renewables to around 77% of installed power-generation capacity, noting that achieving this target will require not only continued expansion of solar and wind power, but also investment in transmission and distribution networks, energy-storage technologies and energy-efficiency measures. He said these efforts form part of Turkiye's strategic goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2053, in line with the vision announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On COP31 priorities, Bayraktar said Turkiye attaches particular importance to climate finance as a critical enabler of the green transition, stressing that meeting climate goals will require substantial financial resources, investment, advanced technologies and stronger international partnerships. He stressed that the success of COP31 should not be measured by the number of meetings held or declarations issued, but by the scale of projects translated into action, the tangible results delivered on the ground and the extent to which the conference strengthens cooperation between developed and developing countries.