At the Caspian Sea summit, leaders of the littoral states issued a joint declaration affirming that countries with coastlines along the Caspian bear the primary responsibility for protecting security and order in the region. The declaration emphasized that maintaining peace, stability, and sustainable development of the Caspian Sea is a top priority for all parties involved.
According to the declaration, coastal states committed to enhancing coordination in maritime security, combating cross-border threats, and protecting the ecological environment. The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, holds strategic significance for the region’s energy security and trade.
Analysts suggest that this declaration reflects efforts by the countries to build multilateral cooperation mechanisms to address common issues, thereby reducing the risk of conflict and strengthening mutual trust. Negotiations on boundary delimitation and resource extraction rights were also considered key topics discussed on the sidelines of the summit.
The joint declaration did not detail specific agreements on resource sharing or other technical issues but emphasized the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect among member states. This is seen as an important step toward consolidating the legal framework for the Caspian region.
Experts noted that with the responsibility clearly affirmed, coastal states will need to develop more effective enforcement mechanisms to address non-traditional security challenges, including smuggling, illegal fishing, and marine environmental pollution.
