Azerbaijan

Country Spotlight

Azerbaijan did not inherit any nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons with the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, Azerbaijan possesses ballistic missiles which it has used in conflict with Armenia. Azerbaijan has consistently expressed interest in the construction of a nuclear power reactor.

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Region Former Soviet Union

$10 billion Estimated cost of nuclear reactor construction

100 Estimated inventory of ballistic missiles, including LORA and EXTRA

280 Estimated range in kilometers of LORA ballistic missiles

1 Radioactive waste facility

Nuclear

Declared interest in constructing a nuclear power reactor in 2008
IAEA approved plans for a nuclear research reactor in 2015
Receives aid from U.S. under Caspian Guard Initiative to improve export control and border security for nonproliferation
Established a National Nuclear Research Center under the Ministry of Communications and High Technologies in 2014
Declared intention to global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in 2024

Biological

Acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 2004
Signed agreement under Cooperative Threat Reduction program to transfer samples of biological agents like anthrax and cholera to U.S. in 2005
Does not possess biological weapons
Has a regulatory framework governing the licensing, registration, and inspections of individuals and facilities working with biological agents and toxins

Missile

Inherited Tochka ballistic missiles after collapse of the Soviet Union
Purchased LORA ballistic missiles and EXTRA guided missiles from Israel
Limited use of LORA missiles reported during the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020

Chemical

Founding member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
Does not possess chemical weapons

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

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Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosion tests on Earth. It needs eight key countries to ratify before entry into force.

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Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) requires countries to destroy all chemical weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using chemical weapons.

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Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

The CIS is an association that coordinates the facilitation of free movement of goods, services, labor force, and capital between member states. It also promotes cooperation on security matters.

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