Caspian Summit: New Alliance Aims to Overcome Geography

A new regional alliance has emerged on the shores of the Caspian Sea, as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan launched a trilateral cooperation format during a major UN conference in the Turkmen tourist zone of Avaza. The leaders of the three nations met to discuss mutually beneficial projects in energy, transport, industry, and agriculture, signaling a strategic push to deepen economic and political ties. Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted the growing role of Azerbaijan in Central Asia and expressed hope that the new format would become a permanent and effective mechanism for regional development.

This diplomatic breakthrough occurred on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), where UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful message: “Geography should not be the destiny of states.” The conference aims to unlock the potential of 32 landlocked nations by focusing on four key areas: fostering economic breakthroughs through digital innovation, developing both physical and procedural transport infrastructure, tackling the climate crisis, and reforming the global financial system to better support their needs.

Host country Turkmenistan used the platform to signal its ambition for closer ties with the European Union. Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov stated that Ashgabat is ready to actively develop cooperation with the EU across all sectors, with a special focus on transport connectivity. Turkmenistan is keen to integrate its projects with the EU’s “Global Corridors” strategy and is preparing for a related summit in October, seeing the EU as a key partner not only in transport and green energy but also in trade, education, and science.

However, a note of caution was sounded by Kazakh political scientist Dosym Satpayev, who argued that geography is often used as an excuse for internal failings. “The main problems are inefficient governance, corruption, resource dependency, and a lack of high-value-added products,” Satpayev stated. He pointed out that many countries with sea access remain poor due to ineffective political and economic systems, while landlocked nations like Switzerland are among the world’s richest. In the digital age, he added, physical location is becoming less of a barrier, especially for economies that can export intellectual products.

Meanwhile, discussions in Avaza also touched upon a broader format of “Central Asia and Azerbaijan,” with an upcoming consultative meeting scheduled for November in Uzbekistan. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that his country would present a range of initiatives aimed at deepening dialogue and stimulating cooperation on trade, transport, water, energy, and climate issues, underscoring the successful partnership with Azerbaijan as a key factor for regional integration.

Beneath the surface of these diplomatic and economic discussions lies a pressing environmental threat. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev raised the alarm over the unprecedented fall in the Caspian Sea’s water level, a crisis that threatens the economy, agriculture, and transport of all five littoral states. He called for the urgent activation of a multilateral, non-politicized mechanism to study the fluctuations and develop a common strategy to preserve the sea and ensure the sustainable development of the entire region.