Caspian Sea: Bordering Neighbors And Their Unique Relationship

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. The legal status of the Caspian Sea has been a subject of dispute, with its classification as a sea or a lake having significant implications for how it is governed and its resources divided. This dispute was largely resolved in 2018 with the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which granted the body of water a special legal status. This means that while the surface water is available for common usage by all littoral states, the seabed, rich in natural resources, is divided up between the bordering countries.

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water

The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast. Its shores reflect the great accumulation of alluvial material washed down by the Ural, Terek, and Volga rivers, whose deltas are extensive. The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species and is renowned for its caviar and oil industries.

The Caspian Sea has a unique salinity level, averaging around 1.2% (12 grams per litre), which is about a third of the salinity of average seawater. This is due to the limited exchange with oceanic waters and the significant freshwater inputs from rivers such as the Volga, the Ural, and the Kura. The Caspian Sea's biodiversity faces threats from overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution from the oil industry.

The geopolitical borders of the Caspian Sea have been a source of contention among the surrounding countries. Disputes over territorial waters and the delineation of exclusive economic zones are ongoing. The Caspian Sea's legal status has been complicated, with debates over whether it should be considered a sea or a lake, as this would determine how the bordering countries can use its resources.

The Caspian Sea holds immense economic significance due to its abundant natural resources and strategic location. It is renowned for its vast reserves of oil and natural gas, attracting international oil companies and spurring the growth of the energy industry in the region. The Caspian Sea also supports a thriving fishing industry, particularly sturgeon fishing for caviar production.

It is bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, is bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. The legal status of the Caspian Sea has been a complicated issue, with disputes arising over whether it should be considered a sea or a lake. This distinction is important because it determines whether international maritime law will apply, or whether the sea will be divided equally between the bordering countries.

Russia has a 7,644-kilometre (4,750 mi) border with Kazakhstan, which is the longest continuous international border in the world. Russia's interests in the Caspian Sea region include geo-strategic, geopolitical, economic, ecological, and military concerns. Russia wants to maintain its influence in the area, particularly within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), to ensure the security of its southern flank. It also seeks to protect its economic interests by ensuring cash flows from oil fields in Central Asia and Siberia and by competing with other Caspian oil investors.

Kazakhstan, which has a developed economic and industrial infrastructure, relies on Russia for its centralized pipeline system. Russia has used this dependency to control Kazakhstan's oil exports, for example, by imposing quotas on the amount of oil that can be exported through its national pipeline system. Kazakhstan and Russia defined their maritime boundary through an agreement reached in 1998, agreeing to a modified equidistance boundary.

Azerbaijan, backed by an unofficial alliance with the US and Turkey, has been at the centre of disputes with Russia over oil exploration and pipeline routes. Tensions between the two countries have been exacerbated by Russia's arms shipments to Armenia and its opposition to a proposed Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. However, Russia has also collaborated with Azerbaijan, with Lukoil, a Russian company, having a stake in oil contracts in the region.

Turkmenistan and Iran, the remaining countries bordering the Caspian Sea, have had differing relationships with Russia. Turkmenistan, home to a significant ethnic Russian community, imposed visa requirements on citizens of other CIS countries, marking a shift in its relationship with Russia. Iran, on the other hand, has improved its relations with Armenia, an ally of Russia, creating a counterbalance to Azerbaijani and Turkish influence in the region.

The sea's legal status has been disputed

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, has been the subject of a long-running dispute regarding its legal status. The debate centres on whether this landlocked body of water, covering 370,000 sq km, should be considered a sea or a lake.

Historical Context

Historically, the Caspian Sea was known as a lake and shared between the Soviet Union and Iran. However, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the emergence of new countries bordering the sea, namely Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, complicated this issue, leading to various claims and counterclaims.

Legal Implications

The distinction between a sea and a lake has significant legal implications. If treated as a sea, the Caspian Sea would fall under international maritime law, specifically the United Nations Law of the Sea. This binding document sets rules on how countries can utilise the world's oceans regarding natural resource management, territorial rights, and environmental protection. Importantly, it is not limited to littoral states, allowing other countries access to its resources.

On the other hand, if defined as a lake, the Caspian Sea would have to be divided equally among all five bordering countries. This would mean that each country would receive a one-fifth share of the sea's territory and resources.

Resolution

After decades of negotiations, the five littoral states—Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan—signed the 'Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea' in 2018. This agreement grants a "special legal status" to the Caspian Sea, meaning it is neither defined as a sea nor a lake.

According to the convention, the surface water is considered international water, allowing freedom of access for all littoral states beyond their territorial waters. However, the seabed, which is rich in natural resources, will be divided up through bilateral agreements between the countries. This compromise aims to balance the interests of all the bordering nations.

It is a source of oil, gas and caviar

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake. It is bounded by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, and two other countries. The Caspian Sea is famous for its caviar and oil industries.

The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species, including the sturgeon, a fish that yields the highly prized delicacy, caviar. Between 80-90% of the world's caviar is sourced from the Caspian Sea, but the numbers have been falling over the past few decades. In 2002, a survey found that the sturgeon was rapidly disappearing and could soon become extinct. The Caspian Sea's sturgeon population has plummeted by some 50-70%. This is due to a variety of reasons, including the damming of rivers that reduce vital spawning grounds, pollution from industry and oil production, the destruction of natural waterways and habitats, and the new role played by organized crime in the sturgeon market.

The Caspian Sea is also highly prized for its vast oil and gas reserves. It is estimated that there are 50 billion barrels of oil and nearly 300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas beneath its seabed. The Caspian Sea's oil and gas reserves have drawn the interest of many countries and companies. In the 1990s, international oil companies rushed to the Caspian Sea, but many have since pulled out. The Caspian Sea's oil and gas reserves have also been a source of tension and conflict among the bordering countries, with disagreements over how to divide its huge oil and gas fields. On occasion, warships have been deployed to scare off contractors hired by rival countries.

Pollution is a major problem

The Caspian Sea, which borders Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan, is the world's largest inland body of water. It is also the world's largest salt lake. Pollution is a major problem in the Caspian Sea, which has suffered from the effects of human activity, including oil extraction, river contamination from industrial waste, and the growing population of nearby cities.

Oil extraction and other industries have caused long-term pollution in the Caspian Sea. Oil pollution has affected the migration routes of sturgeon, and bacterial pollution caused by sewage from Iran is adding to the threats facing sturgeon fish. The UN's Caucasus Environment Outlook states that sturgeon swim through highly polluted water near Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula, limiting their food and oxygen supply.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent development of oil and gas resources have contributed to the ecological issues in the Caspian Sea. Pollution from oil and gas extraction activities, as well as river contamination from industrial waste, chemicals, and mining contaminants, have all impacted the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea.

In addition to the environmental impact on the Caspian Sea, pollution is also a significant problem in Kazakhstan. Air pollution in Kazakhstan is caused by various factors, including mining, processing of mineral resources, oil and gas production, and vehicle emissions. The growth of mining and processing of mineral resources, such as lead, zinc, phosphorus, and chromium, has resulted in a large volume of waste, with tons of harmful substances released into the atmosphere daily.

Flaring of gas during oil and gas production has also contributed to air pollution, with producers burning gas instead of utilizing it, leading to carbon dioxide emissions. The increase in the number of vehicles, particularly in the main cities of Kazakhstan, has resulted in high levels of air pollution by nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and organic substances.

The dispersion of emissions from industrial enterprises during production processes and the combustion of industrial products has further added to the air pollution problem in Kazakhstan. The inadequate ventilation in main cities due to poor architecture planning or landscape specifics has exacerbated the issue, leading to the accumulation of pollutants in the surface atmosphere layer. As a result, the permissible level of air pollution is exceeded in 13 major cities of Kazakhstan.

To address the pollution issues in the Caspian Sea and Kazakhstan, several measures and agreements have been proposed and implemented. The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, signed by all five Caspian littoral states, aims to protect the marine environment and ensure the conservation and sustainable use of its biological resources. However, enforcing environmental regulations and fostering cooperation among the countries remains a challenge.

In Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Environmental Protection faces challenges due to underfunding and low priority. Some new environmental regulations for the oil industry were introduced in 2003, but the country's participation in international programs to save the Aral and Caspian seas has been limited.

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