BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 13. Turkmenistan and
the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
discussed environmental security and cooperation in the Caspian
region.
This was reported in a publication issued by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov held
a meeting with William Leaf, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat,”
the ministry's information says.
The sides reviewed key areas of cooperation between Turkmenistan
and the OSCE, focusing on regional security, economic and
environmental cooperation, and humanitarian interaction.
In this context, the sides emphasized the importance of
cooperation on environmental protection and ensuring environmental
security in the Caspian region.
The push for closer Caspian cooperation comes as changes in the
sea's physical conditions are increasingly affecting economic
infrastructure around its coastline. Research published in
Communications Earth & Environment indicates that continued
declines in the Caspian's water level could significantly affect
ports, shipping and industrial facilities. Under a 10-meter decline
scenario, the study estimates that several major ports, including
Turkmenistan's Turkmenbashi, could become significantly farther
from the shoreline, while offshore oil and gas infrastructure could
also face growing logistical challenges.
The economic dimension has already become part of regional
environmental cooperation. The Protocol on Environmental Impact
Assessment in a Transboundary Context under the Tehran Convention
entered into force in November 2025, creating a framework for
assessing the potential cross-border effects of major projects
before they are implemented. The rules cover activities including
pipelines, oil refineries, and offshore operations, meaning that
environmental coordination can directly intersect with energy and
transport investment across the Caspian.
