Russia's top diplomat warns of growing foreign interference in Caspian region affairs

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed concerns over the increasing number of states attempting to interfere in the Caspian region's affairs.

Speaking at the opening of the fourth meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation, Lavrov reiterated Russia's stance on the exclusive competence of the five Caspian littoral states in resolving regional issues, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"The number of states that are trying to interfere in the affairs of the Caspian region is growing," Lavrov said, adding that Russia consistently maintains the position that the five coastal nations—Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan—should have sole authority in dealing with matters concerning the Caspian Sea.

"Although there are more and more people who want to get involved in these issues. Here, it is necessary to clearly ensure the implementation of the relevant agreements that were reached as part of the work on the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea," he emphasized.

Lavrov’s comments come amid heightened geopolitical interest in the Caspian basin, which holds vast energy resources and serves as a crucial geopolitical crossroads. His remarks also echoed the need for strict adherence to international agreements governing the Caspian Sea’s legal status.

The Russian Foreign Minister also recalled the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum, held in Tehran on February 17-18, where the Caspian littoral countries underscored the high level of cooperation in energy sectors, including oil, gas, and electric power. During the forum, participants expressed their support for further strengthening collaboration in transportation and logistics infrastructure.

"During the event, the parties noted the high level of relations between the Caspian littoral countries in the oil and gas and electric power sectors, and supported further strengthening of cooperation in the field of transportation, as well as transport and logistics infrastructure," Lavrov said.

Additionally, the forum attendees agreed to organize a meeting of the ministers of economy and transport. Lavrov emphasized that the identified priorities for the five states should remain the focus of the commission’s work, facilitating the implementation of decisions made during the third forum.

Lavrov's statements also align with broader efforts to address environmental and economic challenges in the region. Last year, during the Congress of Young Scientists on December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to take all necessary measures to prevent the shallowing of the Caspian Sea. He stated that he had discussed the issue with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, agreeing with Azerbaijan on joint efforts to tackle the environmental concern. Putin also instructed the Russian government to implement preventive actions to address this issue.

By Vafa Guliyeva