Central Asian Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Nuclear-Free Status

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have adopted a joint statement marking the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (CANWFZ Treaty). The treaty was signed in Semipalatinsk on 8 September 2006.

The foreign ministers of the five countries reaffirmed their commitment to the treaty’s goals and principles. The treaty remains the first and only nuclear-weapon-free zone located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and directly bordering two nuclear-weapon states.

The joint statement highlighted the treaty’s importance for strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, regional and global security, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and the environmental rehabilitation of territories affected by radioactive contamination.

The ministers recalled that Uzbekistan first proposed establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia in September 1993, at the 48th session of the UN General Assembly. They said the creation of the zone was the result of joint efforts by the five Central Asian states and represented an important step toward strengthening peace and security.

The document also highlighted the role of the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century in strengthening regional peace and security.

The foreign ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the foundation of international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and achieve their eventual complete elimination. At the same time, they expressed regret that the Eleventh NPT Review Conference concluded without substantive outcomes.

The Central Asian states called on NPT parties to continue negotiations across all three interconnected pillars of the treaty: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The ministers expressed particular concern over the lack of substantial progress in fulfilling nuclear disarmament commitments under Article VI of the NPT, the termination of several arms control agreements and the modernization of nuclear arsenals. Nuclear-weapon states were urged to intensify negotiations on disarmament and the development of new verifiable arms control mechanisms.

The statement separately reaffirmed support for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including implementation of the NPT, the development of peaceful nuclear cooperation, and the application of safeguards and control mechanisms to the nuclear programmes of IAEA member states.

The five countries also called for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to enter into force as soon as possible. On 24 September 2026, the treaty will mark 30 years since it was opened for signature. In this regard, the ministers stressed the need to preserve the international norm against nuclear testing and prevent actions that could weaken it.

The joint statement also underscored the importance of education in disarmament and non-proliferation. The ministers stressed the need for young people to actively participate in discussions on international security and supported further promotion of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, observed on 5 March, the date the NPT entered into force. They also noted the relevance of the recommendations of the UN Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education and the UN Secretary-General’s agenda “Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament.”

The Central Asian states welcomed the signing on 6 May 2014 by nuclear-weapon states of the Protocol on Negative Security Assurances to the CANWFZ Treaty. Four nuclear-weapon states have already ratified the document. The statement expressed hope that the United States will soon complete its ratification process.

The treaty’s participants also expressed interest in its further institutional development and expanded cooperation with other nuclear-weapon-free zones. As examples, they cited the signing of memorandums of understanding with the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) and the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL).

The ministers also recalled the second meeting of representatives of all existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, held on 28–29 August 2024 in Astana under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship.

The document stressed the need to further strengthen regional security as one of the key conditions for the sustainable development of Central Asia. The countries reaffirmed their intention to jointly address common challenges and threats.

The foreign ministers also supported the establishment of new nuclear-weapon-free zones in regions where they do not yet exist, including the Middle East.

The statement welcomed the adoption at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly of the resolution “Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia.” It also noted the anniversary meeting of the states parties to the treaty, held on 5 December 2024 in Ashgabat under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship, with participation from representatives of other existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and international organizations.

The ministers emphasized that Central Asia’s experience demonstrates the possibility of joint action by states in the region in support of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the strengthening of international security.