CENTRAL ASIA MONITORING DESK ISLAMABAD H.E. Mr. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the panel session “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties” of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. President shared his assessment of developments in the Middle East, stressing the need to focus on the core issues of the negotiation process. He shed light on the key trends and challenges facing the international community in 2026 and shaping the global agenda in the near future.
“Diplomats and politicians often say that humanity stands at a crossroads. I recall how former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan repeatedly said: ‘Yes, we are still at a crossroads.’ And this will not change when it comes to reducing international tensions. Today, regional conflicts extend far beyond their regions and have already become global. Of course, the United Nations is an indispensable, universal organization, and every state bears certain responsibilities. Everyone speaks about the need to support the UN. This is true. But it is also widely acknowledged that the Organization must not only be supported but reformed. That is also true. However, let us be frank: no one believes this will happen very soon, as we have long been talking about reforms, changes, and restructuring of the UN, yet little has materialized. We must honestly recognize that the Security Council is the key element for UN reform,” noted the Head of State.
H.E. Mr. President outlined the qualities required of modern leaders.
“I believe that global leaders, as well as heads of states in different regions, must прежде всего approach issues of international security and peace with a high sense of responsibility. In today’s world, strategic restraint plays an exceptionally important role. The way out of the current situation in this complex and even paradoxical world is, in my view, simple: we must be more responsible and exercise restraint,” emphasized H.E. Mr. President of Kazakhstan.
The Head of State also shared his assessment of developments in the Middle East, stressing the need to focus on the core issues of the negotiation process.
“I would advise demonstrating greater awareness of what is happening in the world. For example, everyone is discussing Iran. Of course, the situation there is serious. It is difficult to comment on it. Kazakhstan has expressed solidarity with the Gulf countries. We have called on all states to exercise strategic restraint and cease military actions. The negative consequences of this conflict have been felt by all, especially the economy. Today, much is being said about freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, we must bear in mind that prior to the conflict, this maritime corridor was open for free trade. Therefore, we must focus on the essence of the problem, which lies in the proliferation of nuclear technologies and nuclear weapons. This issue must be central to negotiations concerning the situation around Iran. Meanwhile, discussions have shifted to global trade. Despite everything, global trade continues to grow by 2.5% last year alone. So, the situation is not entirely negative. However, the quality and substance of trade remain a major concern,” said H.E. Mr. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
UN reform, noting that one of the causes of the Organization’s crisis lies in the positions of the permanent members of the Security Council.
“In my view, we must be pragmatic when discussing UN reform. Otherwise, we will endlessly speak about crossroads, strategic values, and similar issues. We hold numerous global and regional meetings and conferences. I would also like to emphasize the important and positive role of so-called middle powers, including Kazakhstan, Turkey, and others. I am not claiming that we are the best. However, we demonstrate a high level of responsibility in global affairs both in practice and diplomacy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that today middle powers often act more responsibly than major powers represented in the Security Council, which, unfortunately, sometimes block solutions to key global issues,” stressed the Head of State.
Future of the United Nations and other international institutions.
“We speak about regional and global conflicts, but at the same time, as a former Foreign Minister of Turkey, you may have noticed that key negotiations increasingly take place outside the UN and other major international structures. People meet in certain capitals and conference halls, but not within the UN. We do not see high-ranking UN representatives acting as mediators in these conflicts. This is a serious issue, it reflects a decline in the UN’s role. I am deeply concerned about this, as I have worked within the UN system. Today, discussions focus on who will become the next UN Secretary-General. In my view, this is not the most important issue. The key question is whether the system itself will survive in its current form,” said H.E. Mr. President.
Impact of artificial intelligence on international organizations , need for fundamental reform of global institutions.
“I have just mentioned that it appears quite strange, even absurd, that the Security Council itself is preventing the resolution of major international issues. Diplomats and politicians are forced to negotiate on alternative platforms. Incidentally, this issue was quite vividly highlighted by Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly session last September, and I fully agree with him. He criticized malfunctioning equipment at UN headquarters, saying that everything in the UN is broken. However, the most serious problem is that the entire peacekeeping process is disrupted, both within the UN and in other structures. I am a strong supporter of multilateral diplomacy and continue to believe in a bright future for humanity united around the idea of justice as a central element of peace,” stated the Head of State.
“The UN must rid itself of outdated ideas and approaches.”
“The Organization was established 80 years ago, and those who argue that it has become outdated and even degraded are right. We must revisit the content of the UN Charter, which still refers to so-called ‘enemy states.’ Eighty years ago, everything was clear. Today, these so-called ‘enemy states’ play an essential role in supporting and financing the Organization and contributing to peace efforts. The most important task is to enhance the effectiveness and authority of the UN,” the President believes.
Finally, H.E. Mr. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of preventive diplomacy in conflict prevention.
“This issue has been discussed for decades at least over the past 30 years. Yet little has changed beyond eloquent speeches and declarations. We must focus on forecasting regional and global conflicts, this is what preventive diplomacy is about. At the same time, we must join efforts to support effective multilateral diplomacy,” concluded the Head of State.
