Alimzhan Akhmetov, a former Kazakh diplomat, became interested in nuclear disarmament issues when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' department for international security issues in 2015. Akhmetov believes nuclear weapons are a destabilizing factor due to the high risks and resources spent on them, and he was disappointed that non-nuclear weapon states agreed too easily to the indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1995. Akhmetov's NGO, the Center for International Security and Policy (CISP), works on nuclear disarmament issues, brings nuclear test survivors to international forums, and collaborates with organizations like ICAN and Soka Gakkai International. Akhmetov expects nuclear weapons to be replaced by other advanced weapons like autonomous systems in the next 50 years, leading to a more secure but unequal world, with proxy wars continuing.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

In this interview, Patricia Lewis shares insights from her extensive career in nuclear policy and disarmament, highlighting her transition from nuclear physics to think tank and research work. She explains the risks nuclear weapons pose, not only as physical entities but also as symbols of power that disrupt global politics. Lewis advocates for a focus on risk reduction over immediate disarmament, emphasizing that reducing the chance of nuclear weapon use is the most urgent priority. She discusses the need for broader public awareness and cooperation among governments, think tanks, and civil society to address nuclear issues through a humanitarian lens.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.