Tokayev Warns of UN Reform Crisis and Declining Role at Antalya Forum

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has delivered a stark assessment of the United Nations, warning that its role is diminishing and that long-promised reforms are in a state of crisis. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, the President, drawing on his own experience within the UN system, outlined a series of fundamental challenges facing the global body.

Tokayev noted that while diplomats often speak of humanity being at a crossroads, this sentiment remains perpetual when it comes to easing international tensions. He observed that regional conflicts have now escalated into global ones. "The UN is an irreplaceable, universal organization," he stated. "Everyone talks about the need to support it and to reform it. That is true. But let's be completely honest: no one believes this will happen very soon."

The Kazakh leader identified the UN Security Council as the central element requiring reform, suggesting it has become an obstacle to resolving critical international issues. He pointed out a significant shift in global diplomacy: key negotiations are increasingly taking place outside the UN's halls.

"All major talks are happening outside the platform of the UN and other major international structures," Tokayev emphasized. "People meet in certain capitals, in separate conference rooms, but not within the walls of the UN. We do not see high-level UN representatives acting as mediators in these conflicts. This is a serious problem. It is about reducing the role of the UN."

Expressing deep concern over this trend, Tokayev argued that debates about who will become the next UN Secretary-General are less important than addressing whether the entire system can survive in its current form.

The President echoed past criticism of the organization's functionality, recalling former U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks at a General Assembly session about broken equipment at UN headquarters. "But the most serious problem," Tokayev said, "is that the entire peacekeeping process is broken both in the United Nations and in other structures."

He called for a radical overhaul, noting that an organization created 80 years ago has become outdated. Tokayev highlighted specific anachronisms, such as references to "enemy states" in the UN Charter—a concept he said is irrelevant today when those same nations play crucial roles in funding and supporting global peace.

The President also stressed the need to move beyond rhetoric on preventive diplomacy, which has been discussed for decades with little tangible result beyond "very beautiful speeches and declarations." He urged a concrete focus on forecasting regional or global conflicts and uniting efforts to support effective multilateral diplomacy.

Despite his criticism, Tokayev affirmed his belief in multilateralism and a future for humanity united around justice as a central element for strengthening peace.