n 10 May, the Kazakhstani government hosted senior representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan in Almaty to discuss how to achieve a lasting peace agreement. At about the same time, Kazakhstan deployed troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights. As geopolitical tensions rise and the world becomes more divided, these initiatives help Kazakhstan increase its international image as a supporter of international peace.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have a historically close relationship, mainly due to common Turkic ties. The relationship is further strengthened by the Trans–Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, of which both are members. Hence, it is not surprising that Azerbaijani leaders in Baku approved of talks hosted in Almaty. While Astana–Yerevan relations are not as close as Astana–Baku relations, the Armenian government also approved Almaty as a neutral location for discussions.
While the scars of the recent conflicts are new, there is reason for cautious optimism about peace in the South Caucasus. At the very least, the two senior officials said all the correct things in Almaty.
The two day meeting in the Kazakhstani city involved discussions on the “provisions of the draft bilateral Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.” At the end of the talks, the two governments issued almost identical statements, saying, “the parties agreed to continue negotiations on open issues where there are still differences.” It is unclear if Kazakhstan will host future negotiations.
A history of Kazakh diplomacy
Kazakhstan’s interest in helping promote peace is not limited to the South Caucasus.
Between February and April of 2013, Kazakhstan hosted two rounds of negotiations between Iran and the P5 nations in Almaty. The objective was to discuss Tehran’s controversial nuclear program; the process culminated with a historic agreement in 2015. While Tehran’s relations with Washington have vastly deteriorated since then, Astana’s small role in what was considered almost a dream a decade ago was hailed as a “major foreign policy achievement” based on the country’s resources, including “uranium and geographic location,” and an example of the country’s multivector foreign policy.
Also, from around 2017 until around 2023, Astana hosted negotiation rounds regarding the war in Syria, known as the Astana Peace Process. While some agreements were achieved, in June 2023, representatives from Iran, Turkiye, and Russia announced they would no longer meet in Kazakhstan to discuss the conflict. Unfortunately, the war in Syria continues.
Kazakhstan gets involved in peacekeeping
More recently, the Kazakhstan Contingent (KAZCON) commenced operations in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. The transfer of authority from the Irish Contingent was reported on 22 March.
The ceremony marked the beginning of a significant increase in Kazakhstani peacekeepers across several UN peace missions. At a 19 January joint meeting, the two houses of the Kazakhstani Parliament approved a bill to deploy up to 430 peacekeepers to various UN missions: UNDOF, the UN Truce Supervision Organization, the UN Mission in South Sudan, and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei.
The January announcement of the troop deployment marks the largest deployment of Kazakhstani troops to date. Before the 2024 deployment, the Kazakhstani military had a limited presence in UN peace missions, primarily deploying military observers—with the exception of a 2018 deployment of Kazakhstani troops to UNIFIL in southeastern Lebanon.
Kazakhstani troops supporting the UNDOF peacekeeping mission arrived in Damascus, Syria on 15 March and a week later officially took over responsibilities from the Irish troops in Camp Faouar, the mission’s headquarters.
As part of their daily activities, Kazakhstani military personnel “are engaged in servicing military equipment and installing combat modules on armored wheeled vehicles.” Kazakhstani and Irish troops have also trained together, including on operations like the evacuation of wounded individuals, according to the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense. “Our unit is the reserve of the mission commander. He can use it to perform various tasks, including in moments of crisis,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ilyas Mustafin, senior officer of the International Cooperation Department.
According to the latest statistics released by UN Peacekeeping, as of 31 May, there are 139 Kazakhstani peacekeepers in UNDOF, six in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and one staff officer. In addition, there are two staff officers and two experts on two other missions.
At the time of writing, Astana has not disclosed when peacekeepers will be deployed to the other announced missions. Several peace operations could use more highly trained troops. In early February, civilians in several villages in Abyei, Sudan, were attacked by assailants using “rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, reportedly over a land dispute” with around 40 people killed. As a result, UNISFA has reportedly increased its land and air patrols in the area.
It is still too early to say if the May 10-11 meeting in Almaty and subsequent dialogues elsewhere between Armenia and Azerbaijan will bring peace to the South Caucasus. Regardless of the outcome, however, at this time of global distrust and fragmentation, Kazakhstan is striving to set a good example. By bringing together leaders of nations in conflict and by sending troops to UN peace missions, Kazakhstan is at least trying to restore peace to a violent world.
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Kazakhstan seeks larger role in international peacebuilding
Photo by Pasqual Gorriz/UN.
August 1, 2024
Kazakhstan is boosting its international image as a supporter of international peace, with its diplomatic and peacekeeping initiatives, writes Wilder Alejandro Sánchez.
O
n 10 May, the Kazakhstani government hosted senior representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan in Almaty to discuss how to achieve a lasting peace agreement. At about the same time, Kazakhstan deployed troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights. As geopolitical tensions rise and the world becomes more divided, these initiatives help Kazakhstan increase its international image as a supporter of international peace.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have a historically close relationship, mainly due to common Turkic ties. The relationship is further strengthened by the Trans–Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, of which both are members. Hence, it is not surprising that Azerbaijani leaders in Baku approved of talks hosted in Almaty. While Astana–Yerevan relations are not as close as Astana–Baku relations, the Armenian government also approved Almaty as a neutral location for discussions.
While the scars of the recent conflicts are new, there is reason for cautious optimism about peace in the South Caucasus. At the very least, the two senior officials said all the correct things in Almaty.
The two day meeting in the Kazakhstani city involved discussions on the “provisions of the draft bilateral Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.” At the end of the talks, the two governments issued almost identical statements, saying, “the parties agreed to continue negotiations on open issues where there are still differences.” It is unclear if Kazakhstan will host future negotiations.
A history of Kazakh diplomacy
Kazakhstan’s interest in helping promote peace is not limited to the South Caucasus.
Between February and April of 2013, Kazakhstan hosted two rounds of negotiations between Iran and the P5 nations in Almaty. The objective was to discuss Tehran’s controversial nuclear program; the process culminated with a historic agreement in 2015. While Tehran’s relations with Washington have vastly deteriorated since then, Astana’s small role in what was considered almost a dream a decade ago was hailed as a “major foreign policy achievement” based on the country’s resources, including “uranium and geographic location,” and an example of the country’s multivector foreign policy.
Also, from around 2017 until around 2023, Astana hosted negotiation rounds regarding the war in Syria, known as the Astana Peace Process. While some agreements were achieved, in June 2023, representatives from Iran, Turkiye, and Russia announced they would no longer meet in Kazakhstan to discuss the conflict. Unfortunately, the war in Syria continues.
Kazakhstan gets involved in peacekeeping
More recently, the Kazakhstan Contingent (KAZCON) commenced operations in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. The transfer of authority from the Irish Contingent was reported on 22 March.
The ceremony marked the beginning of a significant increase in Kazakhstani peacekeepers across several UN peace missions. At a 19 January joint meeting, the two houses of the Kazakhstani Parliament approved a bill to deploy up to 430 peacekeepers to various UN missions: UNDOF, the UN Truce Supervision Organization, the UN Mission in South Sudan, and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei.
The January announcement of the troop deployment marks the largest deployment of Kazakhstani troops to date. Before the 2024 deployment, the Kazakhstani military had a limited presence in UN peace missions, primarily deploying military observers—with the exception of a 2018 deployment of Kazakhstani troops to UNIFIL in southeastern Lebanon.
Kazakhstani troops supporting the UNDOF peacekeeping mission arrived in Damascus, Syria on 15 March and a week later officially took over responsibilities from the Irish troops in Camp Faouar, the mission’s headquarters.
As part of their daily activities, Kazakhstani military personnel “are engaged in servicing military equipment and installing combat modules on armored wheeled vehicles.” Kazakhstani and Irish troops have also trained together, including on operations like the evacuation of wounded individuals, according to the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense. “Our unit is the reserve of the mission commander. He can use it to perform various tasks, including in moments of crisis,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ilyas Mustafin, senior officer of the International Cooperation Department.
According to the latest statistics released by UN Peacekeeping, as of 31 May, there are 139 Kazakhstani peacekeepers in UNDOF, six in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and one staff officer. In addition, there are two staff officers and two experts on two other missions.
At the time of writing, Astana has not disclosed when peacekeepers will be deployed to the other announced missions. Several peace operations could use more highly trained troops. In early February, civilians in several villages in Abyei, Sudan, were attacked by assailants using “rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, reportedly over a land dispute” with around 40 people killed. As a result, UNISFA has reportedly increased its land and air patrols in the area.
It is still too early to say if the May 10-11 meeting in Almaty and subsequent dialogues elsewhere between Armenia and Azerbaijan will bring peace to the South Caucasus. Regardless of the outcome, however, at this time of global distrust and fragmentation, Kazakhstan is striving to set a good example. By bringing together leaders of nations in conflict and by sending troops to UN peace missions, Kazakhstan is at least trying to restore peace to a violent world.
