Published on: 2026-04-29
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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In the year of the 20th anniversary of the Semipalatinsk Treaty, against the backdrop of increasing nuclear threat and geopolitical tension, the experience of Central Asia acquires special significance. Twenty years ago, the region where the Soviet Union conducted nuclear tests for decades made a choice in favor of security, creatingA zone free of nuclear weapons.
На поляReview conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which these days is held at the UN headquarters, on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Zone, free of nuclear weapons in Central Asia, a special round table dedicated to it was organized by Kazakhstan. Its participants discussed how this agreement helps to strengthen international security in conditionsan increasingly unstable global situation.
Symbolically, the agreement itself was signed in 2006 in Semipalatinsk – at the site of one of the largest nuclear test sites in the world. Over forty years – starting from 1949 – on a territory with a total area of 18,500 square kilometers in the Soviet Union.produced 456 explosions. The testing ground was closed by order of the President of Kazakhstan in 1991, but the consequences of the tests still affect people’s health and the state of the environment.
The agreement, known as the Semipalatinsk treaty, united Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It came into force in 2009 and established the voluntary renunciation by these states of the development, acquisition, testing, and placement of nuclear weapons. Oversight of compliance with the obligations is carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Speaking at the round table, the head of the UN Disarmament Office’s weapons of mass destruction section, Christopher King, emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones remain an important instrument of global security. “Zones free of nuclear weapons are not only a historical achievement but also an effective tool for regional security, non-proliferation, and reduction of nuclear risks,” he noted.
He also emphasized that the Central Asian zone has become an example of effective regional cooperation, uniting five countries within a legally binding agreement.
“Such zones contribute to transparency, strengthening trust and reducing risks, as well as serving as a connecting link between regional security and global nonproliferation efforts,” King added.
According to him, Kazakhstan plays an active role in promoting this agenda, supporting initiatives in the field of non-proliferation and strengthening international cooperation.
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erzhan Ashikbaev, who heads the country’s delegation at the Overview Conference, is convinced that the significance of this agreement goes far beyond the region.
“The contribution of the Semipalatinsk Treaty to ensuring security is not only for Central Asia but also beyond its borders unconditionally,” he noted in an interview with the United Nations News Service. According to the diplomat, the creation of the zone was the result of the general aspiration of the countries in the region to strengthen peace, stability, and security, as well as to overcome the difficult legacy of nuclear testing.
Today, against the backgroundgrowing geopolitical tension, some experts express concerns about the viability of such agreements. However, as Ashikbayev emphasized, practice shows the opposite. “On the contrary, it is precisely during such critical periods that the zone proves its existence to be a positive factor,” he said. Kazakhstan, according to him, remains committed to multifaceted diplomacy, and the development of the zone is part of this policy.
The experience of Central Asia attracts interest in other regions of the world as well. However, as Ashikbayev noted, the creation of such zones must be a sovereign decision of the states themselves. “The creation of such zones cannot be imposed from outside. This must be a sovereign decision of the states,” he emphasized.
At the same time after the consequences of the nuclear pastcontinue to be felt even today– primarily in the area of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. “The consequences of nuclear tests are long-term consequences, lasting for centuries,” the diplomat noted.
According to him, rehabilitation programs are being implemented in the region, a modern oncology center has been created, and part of the previously closed territories is gradually being returned to economic use after thorough inspection. At the same time, safety measures are being strengthened in other areas.
Despite the progress made, work to overcome the consequences of the tests remains one of the key tasks.
The Semipalatinsk Treaty has unique features: it is the only zone free of nuclear weapons, entirely located in the northern hemisphere and bordering two states possessing nuclear weapons. It is also the only zone where nuclear bombs were not only tested in the past, but atomic weapons were deployed.
Experts note that in conditions of global instability, the significance of such agreements only increases.
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