Caspian States Sign Naval Deal, Bar Foreign Powers

The naval forces of Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan have signed a strategic cooperation agreement, the main goal of which is to strengthen security and develop interaction in the waters of the Caspian Sea. This step not only establishes a new framework for military cooperation but also sends a clear political message to other global actors.

The signing of the document took place in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, within the framework of a high-level meeting of the commanders of the Caspian littoral states' naval forces. As noted, the agreement provides for the development of comprehensive and multi-layered cooperation between the countries of the region. However, the most crucial and fundamental provision of the document is that it unequivocally emphasizes that the security of the Caspian Sea must be ensured exclusively by the Caspian littoral states themselves.

This principle is further reinforced by another, no less important point of the agreement. The document separately stipulates that any kind of interference by external or trans-regional forces in matters concerning the Caspian Sea is unacceptable. This, in essence, creates a unified security zone, "closing" it to the military influence of the outside world and turning it into a zone of exclusive responsibility for the four signatory countries.

In their speeches, the meeting participants once again reaffirmed their commitment to these principles, stressing that the Caspian Sea remains a zone of collective responsibility for the coastal countries and a symbol of their mutual trust and close cooperation.