Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has renewed calls for comprehensive reforms at the United Nations, particularly targeting the structural imbalance of the UN Security Council. His remarks come as geopolitical tensions escalate and the effectiveness of multilateral diplomacy is increasingly questioned.
Tokayev’s position aligns with growing dissatisfaction among countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, who argue that the existing structure of global institutions no longer reflects the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.
In a recent interview with Gazeta, President Tokayev stated, “The current format of the UN Security Council, with its five permanent members holding veto powers, reflects the post-World War II order. But the world has changed. It is time the UN changed with it” according to Gazeta.
Tokayev emphasized the need for a multipolar world order and proposed that additional seats in the Security Council be allocated to underrepresented regions, particularly Africa, Latin America, and Asia. He warned that failure to democratize the Council could lead to further fragmentation in international cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s position strengthens the broader coalition of Global South nations calling for UN restructuring. India, Brazil, South Africa, and Egypt have echoed similar demands. These countries argue that they are disproportionately affected by global crises—including pandemics, climate change, and armed conflicts—yet remain marginalized in decision-making forums dominated by the United States and its Western allies.
In a 2024 statement at the UN General Assembly, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had said, “Reform is not an option. It is a necessity. The world cannot be run by a club of a few nations that pretend to speak for everyone.”
Tokayev’s remarks follow the 2024 UN Summit of the Future, held in New York, which culminated in the adoption of the so-called “Pact for the Future.” Though hailed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a “visionary document,” the pact has faced backlash from many quarters for its lack of enforceable commitments and failure to introduce structural reforms.
While the pact outlines 56 non-binding commitments on issues such as digital governance, climate finance, and nuclear disarmament, critics argue it lacks the political will to challenge entrenched power structures.
“Paper promises will not solve real problems,” said Brazilian UN Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho during the summit. “We need reforms with teeth, not just talk,” according to The Guardian.
While Tokayev’s comments may appear critical of the Security Council’s status quo—which includes Russia as a permanent member—Moscow has expressed measured support for reform efforts led by non-Western powers.
Kirill Logvinov, Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in March 2025: “Reform of the UN is necessary but must be handled with great care. The goal should be to enhance inclusivity, not to dilute the principles of sovereignty or replace one form of dominance with another,” according to TASS.
Russia has long advocated for a more balanced world order and has repeatedly accused the US and NATO of hijacking international institutions for unilateral geopolitical gains. Moscow has used its veto power at the Security Council to block Western resolutions on Ukraine, Syria, and Palestine, drawing widespread criticism from the West but applause from countries resisting US hegemony.
Unsurprisingly, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom remain skeptical of fundamental UN reforms. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated in a recent policy forum that “Security Council reform is on the agenda, but any changes must preserve the Council’s capacity to act quickly and decisively,” according to The Hill.
Critics argue this stance masks Washington’s desire to retain its dominance over international diplomacy. “The West talks about democracy at home but practices hierarchy abroad,” said Pakistani scholar Dr. Asma Barlas at the Geneva Forum on Global Governance earlier this year.
Countries from Africa and Latin America have been the most vocal about the need for greater representation. The African Union has demanded at least two permanent seats on the Security Council, while Brazil has campaigned tirelessly for a Latin American seat.
“The exclusion of an entire continent from permanent membership is not just an oversight; it’s a moral failure,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2023 BRICS summit, according to Govt of Africa Official Website.
For Kazakhstan, a middle-power in Central Asia, leading the charge for institutional reform reflects its aspirations for a larger diplomatic role in Eurasia and beyond. Tokayev’s position is likely to resonate with many nations who see Kazakhstan as a bridge between East and West, and a credible advocate for multipolarity.
Kazakhstan is also a founding member of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which has increasingly called for regional solutions to global problems. In October 2024, Tokayev proposed transforming CICA into a full-fledged international organization to counterbalance Western institutions like NATO and the G7.
President Tokayev’s urgent call for United Nations reform reflects a mounting global frustration with a system built in 1945 that no longer serves the collective interests of humanity. His remarks are part of a broader geopolitical shift away from unipolarity and towards a more inclusive, just, and representative world order.
As Global South nations continue to rise economically and politically, the credibility and relevance of the United Nations will depend on its willingness to evolve—or risk becoming obsolete in an era of multipolar geopolitics.
