Uzbekistan

Country Spotlight

Uzbekistan does not possess nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. When part of the USSR, Uzbekistan provided much of the uranium for the Soviet nuclear weapons program. Today, it is a member of all relevant arms control treaties including the Central Asia Nuclear Weapons Free-Zone Treaty.

See Uzbekistan’s performance in:

Region Former Soviet Union

$13 billion Estimated cost of proposed Russian-supplied nuclear power plant

63 Kilograms of highly enriched uranium returned from Uzbekistan to Russia in 2006

5th Global rank in uranium oxide production

Nuclear

Possesses two nuclear research reactors from the Soviet era; one remains operational, while the other was decommissioned with the help of the IAEA in 2019
Has ongoing plans to build a small modular reactor with Russian assistance
Has been a major uranium supplier since the Soviet era and continues to mine and export uranium globally
Joined and originally proposed the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (CANWFZ)

Biological

Inherited numerous biological weapons facilities from the Soviet era, including the Aralsk-7
Despite efforts under the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program there remain serious concerns over the safety of the remaining biological agents in these facilities

Missile

No known ballistic missile program, but possesses the industrial and technological capability to produce components
Party to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC)

Chemical

Does not possess a chemical weapons program

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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Central Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ)

The Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ) made formerly-Soviet Central Asia, a Nuclear-Weapons-Free-Zone under the Semipalatinsk Treaty.

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Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

The BTWC mandates the elimination of existing biological weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using biological and toxin weapons.

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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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Unpacking the 76th NATO Summit

Risky Business Jul 10, 2025

Unpacking the 76th NATO Summit

With force modernization as a topline issue, it was clear that the changing security landscape is reshaping the NATO members’ vision of the nuclear alliance.

Get to Know NTI: Grace Wankelman