Cambodia Urges UN Reform, Warns of Deepening Global Divides

NEW YORK, U.S (Sept.29, 2025) — Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn warned that escalating geopolitical tensions and rivalries among major powers are threatening global peace and paralyzing the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sokhonn said the world is facing a “critical test” as multilateral cooperation comes under increasing strain.

“Geopolitical divides are deepening, and the growing rivalry between great powers has repeatedly paralyzed the Security Council,” he said. “As a result, global crises remain unresolved, and millions of lives are at risk.”

Marking the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding, Sokhonn called for a renewed commitment to the organization’s founding principles of peace, development, and human dignity. He criticized what he described as a resurgence of power politics, where “might makes right” and the vulnerable are left behind.

He also condemned the use of economic and political interdependence as a tool of coercion, rather than cooperation.

“If we truly believe that we are better together, then we must restore trust in multilateral institutions,” Sokhonn said. “We must invest in diplomacy that emphasizes prevention and deterrence, and ensure that the United Nations is empowered politically and financially to respond effectively to both current and emerging global challenges.”

His remarks echoed growing international calls for reform of the UN Security Council, which has faced criticism for its inability to act decisively on conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and other global flashpoints.