Turkey has refused to support a €27 billion project to modernize NATO’s network of military fuel pipelines. According to two alliance diplomats, Ankara made a last-minute attempt to secure additional concessions, Politico writes.

According to the diplomats,

Ankara refused to approve the long-term agreement at a meeting of the alliance’s 32 ambassadors last week, despite the fact that the countries had reached a preliminary compromise earlier this month. Turkey said it would not give the “green light” until projects on its territory receive priority funding.

NATO countries are currently engaged in tense negotiations to finalize the agreement. It provides for the expansion of a 10,000-kilometer Cold War-era pipeline network from Western Europe to Eastern and Northern European countries that have recently joined the alliance. This step is part of NATO’s broader effort to prepare for a possible military conflict with Russia.

At the July NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the imminent conclusion of the deal.

“Allies are taking a historic step to strengthen NATO’s fuel supply chain to ensure that our troops have the energy resources they need,” he told reporters. “As allies finalize the details, we understand that this €27 billion investment will make it possible to modernize the existing fuel storage and distribution infrastructure.”

Despite this, Ankara has made it clear that it will not approve the initiative until 21 projects on Turkish territory are included on the list for accelerated funding, the diplomats noted. Ankara’s insistence is explained by the fact that the largest share of the funds will be allocated during the first five years of the program.

“They simply want to push their projects forward at the expense of other allies’ more developed plans,” one diplomat said. “Of course, Russia is the one happiest about these delays.”

Previously, NATO countries had argued over the high cost of the agreement, which diplomats describe as the most expensive joint project in the alliance’s history, while some expressed concern that it would lock in dependence on fossil fuels for decades to come. Later, the capitals agreed to drop their objections, as NATO’s eastern flank states have been actively lobbying for the document to be adopted as quickly as possible.

Ankara’s demarche risks delaying the signing of the agreement on expanding the pipeline network until September, when NATO ambassadors reconvene after the summer recess, one diplomat added.

Turkey’s permanent representation to the alliance declined to comment. NATO referred POLITICO to Mark Rutte’s statements made at the summit earlier this month.