Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for expanding the United Nations Security Council to better reflect contemporary global dynamics. Speaking at the Astana International Forum (AIF), he emphasized that reforming the UN’s most powerful body is essential to restoring trust and maintaining international peace and security.
The Security Council currently consists of 15 members, five permanent (the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly.
“Kazakhstan supports the expansion of the UN Security Council to include broader regional representation,” Tokayev stated. “This year, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Founded in 1945 by 51 states in the aftermath of a devastating global war, the UN envisioned a more peaceful and secure world. Today, it has grown to 193 member states.”
Tokayev criticized the Council’s structure as outdated. “The gap between institutional design, frozen in the post-World War II era, and modern realities undermines both trust in the UN and its effectiveness. Critical decisions affecting billions should not rest in the hands of only a few,” he argued.
He called for a structural overhaul of the Council to ensure its continued relevance, emphasizing that major powers must recommit to the foundational principles of peace, security, and respect for the territorial integrity of all nations.
Highlighting the scale of current global unrest, Tokayev noted that 52 countries were in active armed conflict last year. The economic toll from these hostilities reached an estimated US$19 trillion, approximately 13.5% of global GDP.
“Beyond the staggering numbers lies a more troubling reality,” he said. “Modern conflicts are becoming longer, more complex, and increasingly involve non-state actors. Many are rooted in deep historical and structural contradictions.”
Tokayev emphasized the growing role of so-called “middle powers” in shaping a fairer and more inclusive world order. “Middle powers must be ready to assume greater responsibility in rethinking global governance,” he concluded.
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the 2025 Astana International Forum, themed “Uniting Minds, Shaping the Future,” gathered global leaders, international organizations, investors, businesspeople, and policy experts in Kazakhstan’s capital.
