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UNIPATH STAFF
As part of an expanding diplomatic and security partnership, high-ranking diplomats from Kazakhstan and the United States committed their countries to further cooperation on counterterrorism, nuclear nonproliferation and border security.
The December 2021 meeting in the Kazakh capital of Astana occurred between Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu.
Lu expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan on behalf of the U.S. for its strong cooperation in addressing challenges such as border security, counterterrorism, peacekeeping, nuclear nonproliferation, climate change and regional security.
He commended Kazakhstan for its leadership in repatriating foreign fighters and their families from war zones and vowed to continue bilateral cooperation on rehabilitation and reintegration of these individuals.
Both parties emphasized Kazakhstan’s global leadership in containing the spread of nuclear weapons. The U.S. reiterated its long-standing commitment to aid Kazakhstan in eliminating radioactive waste from the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, a holdover from the days of Moscow’s domination of the region.
Both diplomats expressed support for deepening relations between their respective militaries, border and customs agencies and law enforcement. They intend to do that through the Fourth Five-Year Military Cooperation Plan between the Kazakh Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Sources: Baige News, Voice of America