They worry about the sea: Russia and Kazakhstan discussed tensions in the Caspian Sea

The military actions of the United States and Israel against Iran have negatively affected the Caspian region, Sergey Lavrov said after talks in Astana with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev. According to the minister, the March 18 strike by the anti-Iranian coalition on the port of Enzeli affected the trade and logistical interests of all five Caspian littoral states. Russia and Kazakhstan once again stressed the need to overcome the crisis in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East as soon as possible. Lavrov's visit to the republic also became part of the preparations for the high-level contacts scheduled for the end of May. Following the meeting, the parties signed a cooperation plan for the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for 2027-2028.

Moscow and Astana sign cooperation plan

Moscow and Astana have drawn up a plan for cooperation between the foreign ministries for 2027-2028. The document was the main outcome of the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Kazakhstan and his talks with Yermek Kosherbayev.

"The development of friendly relations with Russia and comprehensive strategic partnership is our absolute priority," the Kazakh Foreign Minister said.

The Kazakh side separately emphasized the economic basis of the relations. According to Yermek Kosherbayev, Moscow remains one of the main partners and investors in the republic's economy. Sergey Lavrov, in turn, drew attention to the structure of trade.

"Russia ranks second among Kazakhstan's main trading partners, and the share of the non—resource component in our trade exceeds 80%, which indicates the high quality of the structure," Lavrov added.

According to him, the process of opening the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Aktau in Kazakhstan is at the final stage.

At the meeting, the parties discussed the entire range of bilateral relations: from industrial cooperation to humanitarian ties. Special attention was paid to the implementation of the decisions of the second Russia—Central Asia summit, which was held in Dushanbe in the fall of 2025. At that time, the countries adopted a final communique and a joint action plan for 2025-2027. The documents cover security, trade, logistics, energy and humanitarian relations.

Through the EAEU, Moscow and Astana are working to solve problems in mutual trade, as well as to develop industrial cooperation and transport routes. Regional stability issues, including the situation around Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and cross-border threats, occupy an important place in the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO.

Russia and Kazakhstan have the longest land border in the world, so border control, transit, and security issues remain a constant part of the dialogue. As the largest State in Central Asia, Kazakhstan plays an important role in regional stability.

Moscow and Astana emphasize the need to overcome the crisis in the Middle East as soon as possible. At the same time, Sergey Lavrov said that the military actions of the United States and Israel against Iran had negatively affected the Caspian region. According to him, the Caspian Sea should remain a zone of peace and cooperation.

"And, of course, the March 18 strike by the anti—Iranian coalition against the infrastructure of the Anzali seaport, which serves the trade and logistical interests of all five Caspian littoral states, was unacceptable and unacceptable," Lavrov said.

He also thanked Astana for its balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis and recalled that Moscow remains interested in resuming the negotiation process to resolve the conflict in Europe.

The partnership with Astana plays a crucial role — it shows that Russia maintains stable ties with one of its key neighbors, despite Western pressure, said Evgeny Sumarokov, associate professor at the Department of International Business at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, regular meetings of the leaders of the two countries are of absolute importance for cooperation between the two countries, Kosherbayev stressed. In many ways, Lavrov's current visit is preparation for high—level contacts: Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Kazakhstan is scheduled for the end of May. By the way, Lavrov also held talks with the head of the republic, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on April 30.

Joint projects of Russia and Kazakhstan

Currently, relations between Moscow and Kazakhstan can be considered stable — they are based on a long-term strategic partnership, noted economist Sergey Tolkachev in a conversation with Izvestia. The two countries' cooperation involves close cooperation on a wide range of issues, including politics, economics, security, and culture.

Kazakhstan also plays an important role in the transport links between Russia and Asia. Routes that connect Russia with China and other Asian markets run through its territory, including through the Belt and Road initiative. Partly due to it, the trade turnover between the two countries reached $27.4 billion by the end of 2025.

However, despite its close ties with Moscow, Astana is forced to maneuver in order not to fall under the secondary sanctions of the West. This has a direct impact on bank settlements, transit, and logistics. The multi-vector nature of Kazakhstan, which is developing parallel projects with China, the EU and Turkey, also forces businesses to take into account the interests of all parties.

— This approach is based on the principle of diversifying alliances and independence from any one power. At the same time, the country adheres to cautious neutrality in global conflicts, and this position is typical for pragmatic Kazakhstan," said Evgeny Sumarokov.

In this situation, the way out is to move from simple trade to deep industrial cooperation. As Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously noted, more than 170 joint projects with investments of over $50 billion serve as the basis for this. The largest Russian players — Sibur, Gazprom, Lukoil and KamAZ — are already actively investing in Kazakhstan's petrochemicals, automotive industry and fertilizer production.

— It is possible to deepen cooperation in such industries as mechanical engineering, petrochemistry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and the production of building materials. Russian and Kazakh enterprises can create joint productions and conduct R&D," Tolkachev emphasized.

One of the key elements of the energy mix is the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). About 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports pass through it. The 1,511 km long route to the Novorossiysk terminal remains uncontested for Astana in terms of volume and efficiency.

Nevertheless, it is precisely in the energy sector that the problem has arisen. Since May 1, Kazakhstan has been redistributing 260 thousand tons of oil destined for Germany to routes through Ust-Luga and CPC. This decision followed the termination of transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline towards Germany, which was explained in Moscow by technical regulations and lack of physical pumping capability.

Western media write that the supply stoppage will hit Berlin. Kazakh oil goes to the PCK refinery in Schwedt, which produces about 90% of the gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel and fuel oil used in Berlin and the neighboring federal state of Brandenburg. Although Astana is trying to diversify exports through the Trans-Caspian route, the Russian pipe network remains critically important for the republic. At the same time, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan is confident that "the existing transport infrastructure makes it possible to fully ensure export stability."

However, cooperation in the energy sector goes far beyond the transit of raw materials. Moscow and Astana are in contact in the coal industry and the electric power industry, developing the agreements reached by the presidents in November 2025.

The most ambitious project promises to be the construction of Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant. In June 2025, Rosatom was designated the leader of the consortium for the implementation of this task. Engineering surveys have already started in the village of Ulken. For Kazakhstan, nuclear power plants are a solution to the problem of energy scarcity, and for Russia, they are a guarantee of technological presence in the region.

According to Tolkachev, deep historical, cultural and political ties between Russia and Kazakhstan create a solid foundation for expanding cooperation, and the convergence of economies within the EAEU contributes to the formation of common markets and stimulates joint projects.