The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, one of America's premier think tanks, in collaboration with the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR), convened a panel discussion on “Kazakhstan's Actions to Address Nuclear and Biological Risks”.
Distinguished speakers included Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the United States Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Carnegie Endowment non-resident fellow Togzhan Kasenova, and CSR Senior Fellows Andrew Weber and Shannon Green.
Yerzhan Ashikbayev underscored Kazakhstan's significant achievements in nonproliferation and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) while articulating the country's commitment to ensuring international security. Notably, he highlighted President
Kasym-Jomart Tokayev's proposal to establish the International Biosecurity Agency (IABS), a pivotal initiative aimed at fortifying the global biosecurity framework.
The Ambassador further reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to fostering open cooperation with all international partners, including the United States.
The speakers commended Kazakhstan's efforts on both domestic and international fronts in bolstering global security. Shannon Green praised Kazakhstan's successful disarmament experience as a beacon for the global community, advocating for nations with "nuclear ambitions" to follow Kazakhstan's example.
Andrew Weber stressed the timely proposal of establishing the IABS, suggesting its potential as an effective mechanism to address prevailing gaps in international biosecurity. He urged all stakeholders to actively participate in discussions concerning the Agency's formation.
In conclusion, participants underscored the imperative of engaging the younger generation of WMD nonproliferation experts, recognizing their capacity to introduce innovative strategies and drive progress in this critical domain.