Kazakhstan echoes India’s call for urgent UN reforms

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for greater responsibility and pragmatism among global leaders and renewed efforts to reform the United Nations during remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17.

Tokayev pointed to growing regional conflicts that increasingly spill beyond their borders and become global in scale.“Regional conflicts nowadays go far beyond regional dimensions. They become global,” he added.

Tokayev stressed that while the United Nations remains “indispensable and universal,” its effectiveness is being undermined by long-standing structural issues.


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He referred to discussions about reforming the UN had begun a long time ago but had not reached any meaningful conclusions.

“We must be very sincere to say that it is the Security Council that serves as an impediment to reforming the UN,” he said.

Tokayev also raised concerns about the diminishing role of international institutions and the growing influence of emerging technologies.

“Major negotiations happen beyond the platforms of the United Nations and other major international organizations. We never see a higher representative of the United Nations mediating those conflicts. It’s a huge problem. It’s about marginalizing the United Nations. I’m very much concerned,” said Tokayev, who used to serve in top roles at the UN, including as UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Tokayev also highlighted Kazakhstan’s position on tensions in the Middle East, particularly around Iran, calling for restraint and diplomacy.

“Everybody is talking about Iran. Of course, it’s a very complex issue. It’s not so easy even to make any comments,” he said. “At the same time, we [Kazakhstan] have expressed our solidarity with the Persian Gulf and called all states to exercise strategic restraint and to stop military actions in that part of the world.”

He added that nuclear issues should remain central to negotiations.