Tokayev warns of high risk of a new nuclear arms race

Amid the growing risk of a new arms race in the world, dialogue between the authorities of nuclear powers must be established, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the BRICS+ summit in New Delhi.

"Peace and strategic stability are necessary conditions for economic and sustainable development. However, this is far from being solely about the economy. The priority should be to move from de-escalating regional tensions to long-term stability through political dialogue and consistent diplomacy. In a broader context, the erosion of the international security architecture and protracted conflicts increase the risk of a new arms race, as well as strategic miscalculations and erroneous decisions. Therefore, high-level dialogue between nuclear powers is critically needed to reduce nuclear risks, including those associated with new technologies," Tokayev's press service quoted him as saying.

In this context, he also stressed the relevance of reforms and changes at the UN as an indispensable platform for establishing international dialogue.

"The reform should strengthen its capacity to prevent conflicts and make collective decisions. The UN Charter should be observed consistently, not selectively. Security Council reform should reflect modern realities and ensure fair representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Developing middle powers should also have a stronger voice in global decision-making, as they can support dialogue and help overcome geopolitical differences and contradictions," Tokayev said.