Key facts
- Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov called for UN Security Council reform, including permanent seats for Africa and Latin America.
- Japarov criticized Western sanctions against Kyrgyzstan, stating they infringe on sovereignty.
- Japarov praised President Donald Trump for reducing funding for NGOs.
- The UN Security Council currently has 15 members, including five permanent members: the US, UK, France, Russia, and China.
- The EU imposed anti-circumvention sanctions on Kyrgyzstan in April.
- Freedom House classified Kyrgyzstan as 'not free' in its latest country report.
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, whose country is set to begin a two-year term on the UN Security Council, used his address at the UN General Assembly to advocate for significant reforms to the body and criticize Western foreign policy. Japarov proposed expanding the Security Council to include two permanent seats for the African continent and one for Latin America, aiming to shift the balance of power and diminish Western influence.
Japarov stated that the world has changed and the Security Council's composition should reflect this, suggesting it should not be a 'club of big or rich countries.' China has long supported equitable reform of the Security Council to boost its authority and efficiency. The United States, however, generally opposes expansion, while the UK and France favor adding Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan, along with permanent African representation.
The Kyrgyz president also criticized the United States, the UK, and the European Union for imposing what he called 'unjustified' sanctions against Kyrgyzstan. He specifically referenced EU sanctions in April related to dual-use electronic components and US sanctions on Kyrgyz entities for alleged sanctions-busting activities. Japarov described sanctions as a tool for interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, used to pressure smaller countries.
In a notable pivot, Japarov praised US President Donald Trump for his efforts to cut funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and independent media. Japarov suggested that these organizations undermine state-building efforts and that Trump's actions strengthened the sovereignty of states. This stance contrasts with his criticism of Western sanctions, as the reduction in US assistance to NGOs globally has been noted to weaken the ability of watchdog organizations to hold governments accountable for rights abuses and authoritarian practices. Freedom House has classified Kyrgyzstan as 'not free,' citing the use of the judiciary and extralegal violence to sideline political opponents and critics.