Indonesia Calls for Comprehensive UN Reform, Greater Multilateral Cooperation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Arrmanatha Nasir has underscored the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the United Nations (UN), calling for an organisation that is more accountable, effective and responsive to evolving global challenges.
Nasir made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Jakarta on Monday, emphasising that reform was essential to ensuring the organisation remained relevant to the needs of the present and future generations.
“Reform is not about weakening the UN; it is about making it fit for purpose for the world we live in today and tomorrow,” Nasir said during a joint press statement with the UN chief.
The Indonesian minister outlined three key messages conveyed during the discussions, beginning with the need for institutional reform and stronger multilateralism.
As a member of the UN Board of Auditors, Indonesia will continue to advocate for a transparent, accountable and responsive international organisation capable of adapting to rapidly changing geopolitical realities, he said.
Nasir also highlighted Indonesia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2029–2030 term, stating that the country’s candidacy reflected its commitment to making the council more representative, effective and focused on delivering tangible results.
“The Security Council must be a room for solutions, not a room for vetoes,” he said.
The minister’s second message focused on the indispensable role of multilateral cooperation, particularly for Indonesia and other developing countries facing increasingly complex global challenges.
“No country, however powerful, can face today’s challenges alone,” Nasir said, stressing the importance of collective action in addressing international issues.
His third message reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to advancing multilateralism and supporting the United Nations’ core objectives in maintaining international peace and security, promoting humanitarian assistance and advancing sustainable development.
“We will keep sending peacekeepers and keep shaping the UN’s agenda on security, humanitarian, and development,” he added.
During the meeting, Nasir also reiterated Indonesia’s firm support for Palestinian statehood based on a two-state solution. He stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved without justice for the Palestinian people.
Guterres’ official visit to Indonesia from October 17 to 19 included a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, a visit to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Peacekeeping Center in Bogor, West Java, and a keynote address on multilateralism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The visit highlighted Indonesia’s engagement with the United Nations and its continued emphasis on international cooperation, institutional reform and collective efforts to address global challenges.
