Tokayev proposes ban on military force in Caspian Sea

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for the complete exclusion of military force in the Caspian Sea region to ensure long-term stability and environmental protection.

According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Kazakh leader made these remarks during his address at the first Regional Environmental Summit held in Astana. President Tokayev emphasized that the preservation of the Caspian Sea is of strategic importance for the entire region and requires a demilitarized approach to safeguard its future.

"Any use of armed forces in the Caspian region should be excluded and prohibited," Tokayev stated, highlighting that the sea is vital for ecological balance, biodiversity, and sustainable development. He further noted that Kazakhstan is actively implementing interstate programs to improve the ecological situation and has established a specialized institute to strengthen scientific cooperation among littoral states.

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is shared by five littoral states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan. The legal status of the sea was largely defined by the 2018 Convention signed in Aktau, which established the sea as a zone of peace and cooperation. The recent summit in Astana brought together representatives from Central Asian countries, the European Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Middle East to discuss pressing environmental challenges and regional security.