Istanbul: Turkish and European officials, diplomats, analysts, and industry experts gathered in Istanbul on Wednesday for the conference 'Maritime Dimension of Energy Security in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea - Shared Challenges, Shared Horizons.' The conference was co-organized by the Embassy of Poland in Ankara, the Polish Consulate General in Istanbul, and the Turkish Economic Development Foundation (IKV). According to Anadolu Agency, discussions at the gathering underscored deepening vulnerabilities in Europe's most critical maritime energy corridors, amid escalating hybrid threats, geopolitical tensions, and accelerating energy transition. Opening the event, IKV Secretary-General Cigdem Nas emphasized the growing strategic weight of the maritime realm. Maciej Lang, Poland's ambassador to Trkiye, highlighted that security was a defining priority for Poland's EU Council Presidency this January to July, citing the 'resilience of energy supply chains and protection of critical infrastructure such as subm arine communication fields.' IKV Chair Ayhan Zeytinoglu drew parallels between the Baltic and Black Sea basins, warning of airspace incursions, cyberattacks, and undersea cable disruptions that have reshaped regional threat perceptions. Citing recent incidents involving Russian tankers near Trkiye's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), he called them 'a dangerous escalation.' In a video address, Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Director General Gustav Lindstrom described the region as 'a chessboard for disruptive hybrid operations,' mentioning shadow fleets, GPS jamming, and the sabotage of undersea cables. He highlighted the immense economic stakes, noting that damage to a major pipeline can cost as much as $87 million per day and require months of repair, while World War II munitions continue to complicate offshore wind expansion. Rafal Hryniewiecki, the deputy director general of Poland's Department of Economic Cooperation, stressed that Poland's partnership with Trkiye is 'remarkable' and 'resilient' and rooted in six centuries of diplomatic ties. He outlined Poland's maritime energy strategy - from expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and offshore wind to strengthening NATO and CBSS coordination - and described Trkiye as a 'strategic gateway for global energy flows.' Poland's new Secure Baltic act empowers the Polish Navy and Air Force to defend pipelines, cables, and offshore wind farms. Maja Urbanska, head of the EU Delegation to Trkiye Political Section, presented the EU's tri-pillar strategy for the Black Sea, centered on resilience, connectivity, and environmental protection. She detailed ongoing work on a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub integrating satellite data, vessel tracking, and coastal radar, alongside EU measures against the shadow fleet. Maciej Filip Bukowski, head of the Energy and Resilience Program of the Warsaw-based Casimir Pulaski Foundation, argued that the Baltic and Black Seas have become 'the center of Europe's strategic map as it changes and unfolds.' The region's vast pipeline and cable grids face threats 'that change faster than institutional reflexes.' Moderated by Karol Wasilewski from the Center for Eastern Studies, the first panel compared Baltic and Black Sea vulnerabilities. Zuzanna Nowak, executive director of the Warsaw-based Opportunity Institute for Foreign Affairs, noted Poland's reliance on the Baltic has reached 48%, potentially rising above 60% as offshore wind and a coastal nuclear plant come online. Mitat Celikpala of Istanbul's Kadir Has University outlined the Black Sea's exposure to active conflict, asserting that policy for the region 'cannot be shaped by the EU or major powers without Trkiye and local actors at the core.' He highlighted interlinked vulnerabilities: offshore production near war zones, risks of Russian interdiction, mines, drone warfare, and exposed critical infrastructure from ports to pipelines. A second panel moderated by Daniel Piekarski from Poland's Foreign Ministry examined best practices and lessons for safeguarding LNG routes, subsea cables, and offshore wind systems. Pinar Ipek of Ankara's TOBB Economics and Technology University highlighted global chokepoints, noting that 'Qatari LNG must pass through the Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.' Cybersecurity risks, often overlooked, were emphasized by Istanbul University's Ozgun Erler Bayir, who called maritime cyber resilience 'one of the least addressed dimensions.' Journalist and independent energy analyst Wojciech Jakobik warned that Europe must prepare for deliberate escalation. Throughout the conference, speakers stressed the centrality of the Baltic and Black Seas to Europe's energy security - and as zones of vulnerability. Hybrid threats, contested waters, and energy-transition pressures converge to challenge both regional and transcontinental stability. As Lang said, the discussions should 'spark new ideas and contribute to valuable recommendations' as Trkiye, Poland, and their European partners confront the next phase of maritime security challenges.