Photo: The press service of the Turkmen Government.

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.