Capacities of 2018 Aktau Convention in Preventing and Combating Militarism and the Presence of Non-Regional Forces in the Caspian Sea

Militarism and the presence of non-regional forces in the Caspian Sea, has been always a deep concern of Islamic Republic of Iran. The 2018 Aktau Convention on Legal Status of the Caspian Sea sets the framework for different issues based on the generally security-related principles of national sovereignty, national integrity, equality among members, and non-use of force. Therefore, one can call that a security-oriented legal instrument among its member states aimed at ensuring the stability of the region. This article is aimed at assessing the security and defensive capacities of the Aktau Convention in preventing and combating militarism and the presence of non-regional forces in the Caspian Sea.

This article is conducted through a descriptive-analytic method and by relying on library resources.

This Convention bans, in absolute terms, prohibits the presence of any third-party armed forces in the Caspian Sea, prohibits member states to provision their territory to other states to commit aggression and undertake other military actions against other littoral states, and limits the navigation and right to passage to the ships with the flag of the littoral states. Furthermore, the Convention puts emphasis on ensuring good neighborhood and friendly relations in passage through territorial waters of the Parties and a stable balance of armaments of the Parties in the Caspian Sea. Accordingly, on the basis of the results of this article, it seems that despite undeniable lacunas, this Convention, potentially, could be considered as a good achievement for its Parties including Iran in terms of preventing and combating militarism and the presence of non-regional forces in the Caspian Sea and consequently ensuring and securing the security and stability in this region.