Tokayev suggests reforming UN Security Council

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a speech at the General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and called for a deep reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Strategic necessity

According to the president, the crisis of trust in multilateral institutions calls for urgent changes.

«In this regard, comprehensive reform of the United Nations is a strategic necessity, not a subject for endless contemplations… A central pillar of this bold effort to renew the UN should be a reform of the Security Council,» Tokayev stated.

The president suggested expanding the Security Council through the inclusion of major nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as strengthening the role of the middle powers. They can serve as «bridges of trust» amid the geopolitical disagreements.  

«Above all, a credible UN for the 21st century requires Member States to take concrete steps toward durable peace and security. Otherwise, the UN is doomed to forever mitigate consequences while root causes forever proliferate,» he said.

New security architecture

Tokayev emphasized that global military spending reached $2.7 trillion in 2024, while war-related violence costs humanity almost $20 trillion.   

«Therefore, rebuilding a robust global security architecture should remain a top priority for the international community,» the president said.

According to him, Kazakhstan is ready to engage in a new dialogue on nuclear disarmament, as well as on strengthening the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The full text of the statement is available here.