The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Chessboard: A High-Stakes Energy Game The Eastern Mediterranean has undergone a seismic shift in its geopolitical landscape over the past decade and a half, transitioning from a region primarily defined by historical grievances to a dynamic and fiercely contested energy frontier. The discovery of prodigious offshore natural gas reserves has set in motion a complex game of chess, drawing in a diverse array of actors, spurring billions in investment, and creating both opportunities for cooperation and flashpoints for conflict. This detailed examination delves into the motivations of the key players, the colossal financial stakes, the intractable disputes, and the broader global implications of this unfolding energy drama. The Protagonists: Who's on the Board? The cast of characters in the Eastern Mediterranean gas saga is extensive, each with their own strategic calculus: Israel: The first major beneficiary of the gas boom, Israel’s dis...