‘We must prevent
wars, not try ending them,’ Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during
the 46th Singapore Lecture, stating that no ‘good offices’ as peaceful means of
settling disputes cannot substitute an effectively functioning multilateral cooperation
system. It is now more important than ever to update and rebuild the authority
of multilateral institutions, starting with reforming the UN. The voices of
middle powers and all developing countries in the Security Council should be
amplified and clearly heard, the Head of State emphasized. The fact that the
global security architecture is being dismantled and it is time to take action
is evidenced by the figures. President Tokayev noted that last year the world
military spending reached a record high of $2.2 trillion. This is leading to a
new arms race. Kazakhstan remains firmly committed to the principles and values
of responsible diplomacy on the path of building a just country. President
Tokayev proposed adopting the concept of ‘overlapping circles of friends,’
suggested by Singapore for ASEAN and Central Asia. The region is currently
demonstrating openness and readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders, as
evidenced by the established C5+1 cooperation format. The Singapore Lectures,
held by the Yusof Ishak Institute since the 1980s, provide a unique opportunity
for political analysts and diplomats to hear firsthand the viewpoints of heads
of state and prominent global leaders.
