# The Seven Landlocked Countries That Have Navies

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WufGmAWN-7o
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/WufGmAWN-7o
Generated: 2026-05-12T17:32:58.361+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Seven landlocked countries—Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Laos, Paraguay, and Bolivia—maintain navies despite having no direct access to the open ocean, using these forces to patrol inland lakes and rivers for security, law enforcement, and territorial protection. Each of these nations justifies its maritime presence by highlighting the strategic importance of internal waterways like the Caspian Sea, Lake Titicaca, or major river systems, which are vital for commerce, anti-terrorism, anti-narcotics efforts, and national sovereignty.

**Key Points:**
- Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan operate navies on the landlocked Caspian Sea to protect oil and gas infrastructure and exert regional influence.
- Ethiopia re-established a navy to protect its maritime interests and access to the Red Sea via the port of Djibouti, which handles 95% of its imports and exports.
- Laos maintains a small, poorly funded navy primarily responsible for patrolling the 1,800-kilometer Mekong River and securing its border with Thailand.
- Paraguay utilizes its navy as the sole governmental body with law enforcement authority over its vast river systems, which facilitate 80% of the nation's trade.
- Bolivia operates a symbolic navy on Lake Titicaca and other inland waters to maintain its identity as a seafaring nation and advocate for the eventual restoration of its lost coastline.
- These seven countries collectively demonstrate that naval forces are essential for internal security and economic stability even when those nations lack direct access to the world's oceans.

![Screenshot at 00:12: The seven landlocked countries identified in the video as having navies: Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Azerbaijan, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Laos, and Ethiopia.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WufGmAWN-7o/00-00-12.jpg)

**Context:** The concept of a landlocked navy appears counterintuitive, as these forces operate entirely within the borders of countries that cannot reach the ocean. However, these nations face unique geographical and security challenges—such as porous river borders, vast inland lakes, and critical economic trade routes—that necessitate a dedicated maritime presence. By maintaining navies, these seven countries secure their inland waterways and assert their national interests in regions where overland control is insufficient.

## Detailed Analysis

This analysis details the seven landlocked nations that operate navies, explaining that these forces are not merely symbolic but serve critical functions. Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan rely on their Caspian Sea navies to protect energy infrastructure and maintain regional security following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ethiopia, having lost its coastline, focuses on securing its trade routes through the port of Djibouti. Laos, despite its limited resources, patrols the Mekong River to manage border security and counter illegal activities. Paraguay's navy acts as a primary law enforcement agency for its extensive river networks, which are crucial for the country's economy and trade. Finally, Bolivia maintains a navy primarily for symbolic purposes, asserting its claim to the Pacific coast while patrolling Lake Titicaca and inland rivers to combat smuggling and support remote communities. Each nation demonstrates that naval capabilities are vital for managing internal water boundaries and protecting economic and security interests.

### Caspian Sea Navies

- Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan maintain naval forces on the Caspian Sea to protect oil and gas infrastructure
- These nations inherited Soviet naval bases and ships after the USSR's dissolution
- The Caspian's lack of a direct outlet to the ocean does not diminish the need for these countries to assert sovereignty and manage regional tensions.

### Ethiopia and Laos

- Ethiopia re-established its navy to protect maritime interests and trade through the port of Djibouti
- Laos uses its small, underfunded navy to patrol the Mekong River border with Thailand and counter illegal cross-border activity
- Both nations prioritize inland water security to protect national trade and territorial integrity.

### Paraguay and Bolivia

- Paraguay's navy is the exclusive law enforcement authority on its rivers, essential for protecting 80% of its trade and combating drug smuggling
- Bolivia maintains a symbolic navy on Lake Titicaca and inland rivers to preserve its national identity and advocate for the return of its lost coastline
- Both countries utilize their maritime forces for practical security tasks including disaster response and protecting economic routes.

![Screenshot at 00:40: Map showing the Caspian Sea and the bordering nations of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WufGmAWN-7o/00-00-40.jpg)
![Screenshot at 03:03: Map highlighting Ethiopia and the neighboring nation of Eritrea, which gained independence in the 1990s.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WufGmAWN-7o/00-03-03.jpg)
![Screenshot at 03:48: Map illustrating the locations of Paraguay and Laos on opposite sides of the globe.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WufGmAWN-7o/00-03-48.jpg)
![Screenshot at 05:33: Map showing the landlocked nation of Bolivia and its historic loss of coastline to Chile.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/WufGmAWN-7o/00-05-33.jpg)