Interesting developments in the Caspian region today. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Tehran meeting with Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. The way the New York Times frames the meeting makes it sound like there was a firm declaration by all the Caspian littoral states to eschew the use of force in the region, a clear warning to Washington. Or is it? I'd prefer to read the declaration itself before I'm certain. But, it does make geopolitical sense for Putin and Ahmedinejad and the other Caspian nations to join efforts to prevent Washington from attacking Iran.

From the Times:

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told a summit meeting of five Caspian Sea nations in Iran today that any use of military force in the region was unacceptable and in a declaration the countries agreed that none of them would allow their territories to be used as a base for launching military strikes against any of the others.

“We should not even think of making use of force in this region,” Mr. Putin said.

This comment by Ahmedinejad leads me to believe that whatever agreement was made isn't completely bulletproof:

Mr. Ahmadinejad intimated as much in his statements today. “On many issues we have reached final agreement but we also need collective cooperation,” said Mr. Ahmadinejad at the gathering. “The goal is to keep the sea clear of military competitions and keep foreigners out of the region.”

I'll write more when--or if--I find the text of the declaration.

One thing more I find interesting about this article in the Times is how it frames our presence in Central Asia in a more positive light than it really is, implying in a way that Russia is struggling to keep us out, while the opposite is more true: that the US is struggling to retain what little presence remains, especially after being booted out of Uzbekistan, our unraveling relationship with Pakistan and the constant haggling the US does in Kyrgyzstan.

More after the jump

From the Times:

But the issue of Iran’s nuclear program overshadowed the others. Mr. Putin’s remarks also underscored a longstanding unease in the Kremlin with what it regards as a creeping American military presence in Central Asia, a region formerly solely under Moscow’s control.

Since the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, the Pentagon has built a military base in Kyrgyzstan to support operations in Afghanistan, and has expanded its military collaboration with Azerbaijan, including underwriting an upgrade of a former Soviet airfield there.

It also has an agreement allowing military transport planes en route to Afghanistan to refuel in Turkmenistan, a country that has made neutrality a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

The American presence and collaboration in the region has alarmed Moscow, and its potential access to improved airfields in two countries bordering Iran — Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan — has fueled speculation that the airfields could support actions against Tehran.

There's nothing 'crepping about our position in Central Asia, unless we're creeping outwards?

Regardless, the real spoiler right now is China. What has China said privately about Iran? What will they do if we attack?