Tokayev calls for UN Security Council reform and strategic restraint at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used his platform at the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum to deliver a pointed critique of the United Nations’ structural weaknesses while advocating for greater responsibility and restraint from global leaders. Speaking on the high-level panel “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” Tokayev underscored the urgent need for multilateral reform amid escalating regional conflicts that increasingly spill over into global crises.

A veteran multilateralist’s call for change

Tokayev’s remarks carried particular weight given his distinguished UN track record. From 2011 to 2013, he served as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and UN Under-Secretary-General while also acting as the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative to the Conference on Disarmament. Earlier in his career, as Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister and later Prime Minister, he played a key role in the country’s nuclear disarmament efforts, a cornerstone of its international profile. His experience has long shaped Kazakhstan’s proactive stance on preventive diplomacy, disarmament, and UN-cantered multilateralism, including recent initiatives such as hosting the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals in Central Asia.

In Antalya, Tokayev reaffirmed the UN’s status as an “indispensable and universal organisation” but warned that its effectiveness is severely hampered by outdated structures. He singled out the UN Security Council as “the main element requiring reform,” noting that its current composition and decision-making dynamics have become a central obstacle to meaningful institutional change. Despite broad agreement on the need for overhaul, Tokayev expressed skepticism about near-term progress, citing years of stalled negotiations and a lack of tangible outcomes.

He highlighted a troubling trend: major negotiations on global conflicts are increasingly occurring outside UN frameworks, risking the marginalisation of the organisation. Tokayev called for a reassessment of certain UN Charter provisions that no longer reflect today’s geopolitical realities, arguing that without substantive reform and renewed political commitment, the multilateral system’s long-term viability is at stake. He also stressed the importance of preventive diplomacy—anticipating and mitigating conflicts before they escalate – while noting that implementation remains limited despite decades of discussion.

Leadership, middle powers, and regional flashpoints

Beyond institutional reform, Tokayev emphasised that effective global leadership today demands “responsibility and restraint,” particularly in peace and security matters. In an era of heightened uncertainty where regional conflicts rapidly acquire global dimensions, he argued that “strategic restraint” is essential to avoid dangerous escalation.

The Kazakh leader pointed to the growing role of “middle powers” such as Kazakhstan and host nation Turkey, which he said often demonstrate greater pragmatism and responsibility than major powers in tackling complex challenges. He suggested enhanced Kazakhstan-Turkish cooperation could serve as a model for diversified, flexible diplomacy.

On the Middle East, Tokayev described the situation as complex and urged caution in public assessments. Kazakhstan has expressed solidarity with Gulf countries and consistently called for restraint to prevent further escalation. He noted the significant economic fallout – disruptions to energy and trade flows – and stressed that the central issue remains nuclear proliferation, not peripheral concerns such as maritime routes. While acknowledging the Strait of Hormuz’s importance, he observed that such routes were functioning before the latest tensions and should not overshadow core diplomatic priorities.

Tokayev also touched on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, urging international institutions to adapt proactively rather than reactively.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, hosted annually by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has become a key platform for high-level dialogue on international security, diplomacy, and global governance. Now in its fifth edition (April 17–19), the event convened leaders, diplomats, and experts from more than 150 countries under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.” Panels, keynotes, and bilateral meetings focused on geopolitical tensions, shifting power balances, and pressures on multilateral institutions.

Caption: The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum [Akorda]