Can Kazakhstan Reduce U.S. Reliance on Russian Uranium? | Mapping Minerals Diplomacy

Kazakhstan is the world’s uranium superpower—producing more than 40% of global supply and shaping the future of nuclear energy. In this episode of Mapping Minerals Diplomacy, CSIS Director Gracelin Baskaran explores Kazakhstan’s pivotal role in developing nuclear power. From uranium dominance and nuclear non-proliferation leadership, to balancing relations with Russia, China, and the United States, Kazakhstan sits at the crossroads of geopolitics and critical supply chains. We’ll unpack: Does Kazakhstan plan to develop its own uranium enrichment capabilities, or will it continue to rely on Russia and China for processing?Given declining exploration budgets, how is Kazakhstan planning to secure future uranium supply and avoid overreliance on existing deposits? What role can Kazakhstan play in stabilizing uranium markets, especially given the price volatility during past political unrest? What meaningful U.S.–Kazakhstan cooperation on critical minerals looks like. Featuring Meirzhan Yussupov, CEO of Kazatomprom, this episode dives deep into Kazakhstan’s strategy for meeting surging global uranium demand. --------------------------------------------- A nonpartisan institution, CSIS is the top national security think tank in the world. Visit www.csis.org to find more of our work as we bring bipartisan solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Want to see more videos and virtual events? Subscribe to this channel and turn on notifications: https://cs.is/2dCfTve Follow CSIS on: • Twitter: www.twitter.com/csis • Facebook: www.facebook.com/CSIS.org • Instagram: www.instagram.com/csis/