US Relations | Political Cooperation

Strategic Partnership Dialogue

Kazakhstan and the United States in 2010 launched the Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABC) under Strategic Partnership – a framework for cooperation on range of issues including regional cooperation, stabilization of Afghanistan, security, democratic reform, rule of law, human rights, civil society development, economic development, energy, science and technology, and people to people contacts.

Kazakhstan and the United States elevated cooperation to the framework of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue during President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to the US in January 2018. During their meeting on January 16, 2018, President Nazarbayev and President Trump committed to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century.

The ESPD was most recently discussed on December 10, 2020.

The first meeting of Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue was held on December 8-12, 2018 in Nur-Sultan during the visit of the US delegation led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Ambassador Alice Wells.

In 2013, Washington hosted the second SPD meeting where the two sides recognized that significant progress had been made in the bilateral relationship since the inaugural meeting in 2012.

The third SPD took place when Foreign Minister Idrissov and Secretary Kerry met on December 10, 2014 in Washington, D.C. The two sides highlighted the robust and growing bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and the United States and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the strategic partnership. The United States expressed its unwavering support for Kazakhstan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The joint statement on the third SPD highlighted Kazakhstan and U.S. partnership on global issues such as counterterrorism and peace-building, recognized Kazakhstan’s role as neutral host of the P5+1 talks with Iran and contribution to the UN ebola response fund.

The U.S. also welcomed Kazakhstan’s hosting of the fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, June 10-11, 2015, in Nur-Sultan. The joint statement affirmed U.S. - Kazakh cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation and security, and democracy and civil society strengthening. The U.S. welcomed Kazakhstan’s human rights progress, particularly the Consultative and Advisory Body Dialogue Platform on Human Dimension.

The first session of the fourth SPD was held on November 2, 2015, when Secretary Kerry visited Nur-Sultan. The sides discussed counter-terrorism measures, the conflict in eastern Ukraine and regional security. The next session of the fourth SPD was in Washington, D.C. on March 9, 2016.

The fifth SPD took place on September 20, 2016 in New York City, on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly. Foreign Minister Idrissov and Secretary Kerry assessed that the strategic partnership between the two countries has never been stronger.

The ESPD convened on December 4, 2019 in Washington, D.C., preceeding a visit by Foreign Minister Tileuberdi.