Foreign Policy

Kazakhstan has established diplomatic relations with more than 120 countries and is a member of 64 international political and economic organizations; about 70 foreign diplomatic missions and offices of international organizations are accredited in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan was among the first countries in the world to unilaterally dismantle its nuclear arsenal (the fourth largest in the world) and close the second largest nuclear test site at Semipalatinsk - an unwanted legacy from the USSR. Today, Kazakhstan continues to set a model for the global community in its leadership on unilateral disarmament and non-proliferation.

Kazakhstan has constantly been making efforts to promote regional economic integration. Astana has taken practical measures through its cooperation within the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Association, the Central Asian Economic Association, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Kazakhstan plays an important role in securing stability in the volatile region of Central Asia and beyond. It was Kazakhstan that initiated the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which unites 17 Asian nations, including Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and others, with the primary goal of establishing a comprehensive security system in Asia, a system that has never existed in the past. In June 2002, at the peak of Indo-Pakistani and Israel-Palestine tensions, the leaders of these countries met in Almaty for the first ever summit of CICA members.

Kazakhstan condemned the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11 and has been a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led international coalition against global terrorism. The Republic provides free overflight rights and a major international airport for U.S. and coalition aircraft.

Kazakhstan strongly favours a comprehensive and continued international effort to bring lasting peace and economic and humanitarian rehabilitation to Afghanistan. It has joined the International Anti-terrorist Coalition and fully supported its operations in Afghanistan.

Kazakhstan believes that the UN should play an active and effective role in the political process and economic rehabilitation in Iraq in close cooperation with the Governing Council and Coalition Provisional Authority. Kazakhstan fully cooperates with the international community in this respect and has sent a fully equipped unit of 30 military engineers as part of the International Stabilization forces in Iraq.