Kremlin: Without the consent of Moscow, there will be no Trans-Caspian gas pipeline

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Only a few days have passed since the five Caspian littoral states signed the Convention on the division of this unique reservoir with all its resources. This event is rightfully considered a real breakthrough in the settlement of the territorial dispute that arose after the collapse of the USSR.


The division of the Caspian has a number of aspects: political, economic and military. On the eve of we toldwhat Russia was able to achieve by signing the Convention militarily. Moscow received guarantees that there would be neither NATO nor Chinese warships on the Caspian Sea, only fleets of the five Caspian states could plow its waters. Thanks to this, the Caspian flotilla of the Russian Navy received an excellent bridgehead for the possibility of delivering Caliber cruise missile attacks on American military bases in the Persian Gulf region, the Red and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Middle East, if such a need arises. This objectively can be considered a great achievement in the field of ensuring national security of Russia.



Now it’s time to carefully consider the economic side of the division of the Caspian. For a long time, Moscow itself was opposed to the proposed options for resolving the territorial issue, since they suggested the possibility of building the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan, bypassing Russia. Why did the Kremlin neglect the interests of Gazprom for once?

As you know, the so-called Southern Gas Corridor is being actively implemented, which provides for the construction of a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan through Turkey to the countries of Southern Europe. All this happens without the participation of the Russian Federation and does not cause her the slightest enthusiasm, since it means the emergence of additional competition in the European gas market. The trans-Caspian gas pipeline, originating in the city of Turkmenbashi, should join the Southern Gas Corridor in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The length of the pipe can be 300 kilometers, the maximum capacity is 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas per year. Another pipeline is estimated at $ 5 billion. There is evidence that Astana is also interested in connecting to the gas pipeline and becoming a competitor to Moscow in the “blue fuel” market in Europe.

Is it any wonder that the Kremlin’s unexpected pliability was a pleasant surprise for the former Soviet republics:

The Convention clarifies that pipelines are a matter of bilateral negotiations between the countries through which they pass


However, Russian ambassador Igor Bratchikov tempered the ardor of gas sellers:

When and if there are real plans for the construction of trans-Caspian pipelines, any of the Caspian countries (...) will be able to join the procedure for assessing the possible consequences of such structures for the ecology of the Caspian, even at the design stage


Really. There is a Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian. If, for example, the Kingdom of Denmark opposes the construction of Nord Stream 2 for environmental reasons, then why should Russia not defend a unique reservoir?
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  1. 0
    18 August 2018 18: 44
    -It's strange ... but before the signing of the "Convention on the Division of ..." the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy did not have "an excellent foothold for the possibility of striking with Kalibr cruise missiles at American military bases in the Persian Gulf region, the Red and Mediterranean Seas, and also the Middle East in case of need "???
    -Of course I had .., which I demonstrated more than once ... -It was necessary to remain with the "status quo" ...
    -And now what ...? -And now .. these our brothers in the CSTO who have received their "legalized share" of the Caspian Sea .... -Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan ...- of course, sooner or later they will push the construction of the "Southern Gas Corridor-Gas Pipeline" and it will be very soon and even the construction of not one gas pipeline ... but several ...
    -Yes, and more ... -It is now that Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have a "legal opportunity" ... to "invite" to their "share-territory" of the Caspian ...- even American, even Chinese military bases ...
    -And the pitiful arguments about the "Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian" ... are arguments in favor of the poor (they would also remember the Aral Sea) ... -This is just an anecdote ... -only Russia won't have to laugh at him ...
    - It's just not clear ... - who in our Russian leadership is promoting all this ... - "enemies of the people or what"? -Other things don't even come to mind ...
    1. -1
      19 August 2018 11: 32
      Quote: gorenina91
      .. these are ours who received their "legalized share" of the Caspian CSTO brothers .... -Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan ... - of course, sooner or later, the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor-Gas Pipeline will be pushed through and it will be very soon, and even the construction of not one gas pipeline ... but several ...

      Definitely. Moreover, of the above countries, only Kazakhstan is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization ...
  2. -1
    19 August 2018 07: 46
    Quote: gorenina91
    It's just not clear ... - who in our Russian leadership is promoting all this ... - "enemies of the people or what"? -Other things don't even come to mind ..

    Reasonable questions. But to them up there, the geopolitics, they know better ...
    1. 0
      19 August 2018 11: 49
      - Of course, they ... can be seen at the top ...

      -Even it is clear to everyone that now the same sovereign "Latin-speaking" Kazakhstan and ... and the same Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan ... -can always and easily complain to the "Latin-speaking brotherly" America (USA) about Russia. Just ask for help USA .., motivating its appeal by the fact that Russia allegedly threatens their territorial integrity and the preservation of their sovereignty ... -And the USA will immediately respond ... -the giant "Boeings" will arrive and ... and the Americans in the "legal Caspian zones" of each from these states ... both the Air Force and the Navy will very quickly build their bases ... -And all the previous "agreements-talks" about bans on such actions will turn into agreements written in the sand, which will be washed away by the Caspian wave ...
      -And where will our "Calibers" be able to shoot ... how far away ... when our opponents will have the opportunity to shoot at them at point blank range ..., moreover, from the simplest relatively inexpensive type of weapon ...?
      - The fact is simply astounding .. how Russia itself deeply plunges a hook into the lip .. and puts the fishing rod in the hands of its enemies ...
      -And after all, the signing of this treaty could be postponed for two hundred years ... -no after all, Russia did not captive it ...
      1. +1
        30 August 2018 14: 31
        And the United States will instantly respond ... - giant "Boeings" will arrive ...

        Before posting my rubbish and nonsense, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.
        The convention also contains a provision on preventing the presence in the Caspian of armed forces not belonging to the parties to the treaty.
        According to this convention, the Caspian is recognized by the sea, not by the lake. So territorial are only 12 miles from the coast of each country. This enables the Russian fleet to move freely throughout the Caspian.
        Strict division into sectors received only the bottom of the reservoir.
  3. 0
    24 August 2018 14: 16
    The trouble with "unique" reservoirs is that they begin to care about their uniqueness only when the whole "cake" cannot be swallowed.