The Caspian littoral states have agreed to establish a new Commission to counter the decline in the level of the Caspian Sea

Following the Caspian Ecological Summit held on October 9, 2026, in the "Avaza" National Tourist Zone in Turkmenistan, a historic Decision of the Heads of the Caspian Littoral States was adopted. In accordance with this document, a special five-party high-level task force is being established to combat the receding water levels and prevent the decline of the Caspian Sea level.

This newly established interregional body will operate at the level of the Deputy Heads of Government of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, with the direct participation of high-ranking representatives from Iran and Russia. The primary objective of this task force is to scientifically identify the exact causes behind the drop in the sea level, as well as to develop and implement coordinated, comprehensive, and practical measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of environmental challenges emerging in the drying coastal areas of the Caspian Sea.

To provide comprehensive and highly professional support to the activities of this international task force, specialized working groups comprising experts and scientists from the relevant state agencies of the five countries will also be formed. According to the new agreement, the governments of the Caspian littoral states must designate authorized representatives and specialists within the next three months to officially represent their countries in this international task force. Subsequent meetings will continue on a rotational basis within the territories of the other Caspian littoral states, following the alphabetical order of the English language.

Initiatives aimed at preserving stability in the Caspian region and jointly combating the rapid decline of the sea level have been previously and consistently brought forward at the state level on international platforms. Notably, at the 6th Summit of the Heads of State of the Caspian Littoral States, held in Ashgabat on June 29, 2022, significant proposals were made to create joint expert groups to investigate the drop in the sea level and its consequences. This new five-party document signed in "Avaza" will elevate the cooperation of the five Caspian littoral states to a qualitatively higher international level in rectifying the unstable ecological situation in the region and taking concrete, practical steps.