In January 2022, Turkey's state-backed TRT channel unveiled a two-part hour-long series spotlighting the East Med pipeline project, an ambitious energy venture poised to connect Cyprus, Greece, and Israel. Meanwhile, in a surprising move, the U.S. State Department either endorsed or authored a “non-paper” effectively withdrawing support for the project, much to the chagrin of the Greeks and Israelis, who were caught off guard by this abrupt decision.

This diplomatic shuffle occurred just a month before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It begs the question: was the U.S. blindsided, oblivious to the impending energy crisis that would arise from the Russia-Ukraine tensions? Or, was there foresight, prompting a premature end to the East Med collaboration, whilst simultaneously advocating for Turkey's pivotal role in the region - a country that, by this point, was adroitly balancing its alliances with both the U.S. and Russia. What was the rationale for going to such great lengths to decisively kill off a potential collaboration project in the East Med? To what end was the US doing this when not in the middle of it anyway/

Amidst this geopolitical whirlwind, TRT's documentary took a tone of almost smug satisfaction regarding the U.S.'s East Med pullback.

Central to the narrative was Amos Hochstein, who not only bookended the documentary with opening and closing remarks but also emerged as its most prominent voice. Hochstein's stance was unambiguous, fervently advocating for Turkey's integral role in the project, regardless of the evident apprehensions from longstanding collaborators, Israel and Greece.

In the documentary, Amos Hochstein begins with a succinct introduction:

Amos Hochstein: "I'm Amos Hochstein. During the Obama administration, I served as the special envoy for International Energy. I had the unique opportunity to engage with the East Med's natural resources, leveraging them for political, geopolitical, and diplomatic gains."

Subsequently, Hochstein delved into the genesis of the East Med Pipeline project:

Amos Hochstein: "The inception of this idea can be traced back to late 2015 and 2016, marked by pivotal discussions between Israelis and Cypriots. To fully grasp its significance, one must rewind to the context of those years, a period when Europe was intensely grappling with challenges related to gas accessibility."