Erdoğan Proposes Abolishing UN Security Council Veto Power
World
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for abolishing the veto power of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and ending the system of permanent membership. He made the proposal in an article published by Bloomberg on September 22.
According to Erdoğan, recent crises, including pandemics, energy shocks, supply-chain disruptions and regional conflicts, have exposed the limitations of a system in which decisions on global challenges depend on a small number of states. He said international decision-making mechanisms must adapt to current realities.
The Turkish president proposed building a broad coalition within the UN General Assembly around the principle that no country should have the permanent ability to block the will of the majority of the international community. He argued that reform should not simply mean extending veto privileges to additional states.
Erdoğan also proposed changing how the Security Council is formed. Under his plan, permanent membership would be abolished and all Security Council members would be elected by the General Assembly for fixed terms. Countries seeking another term would have to regain the confidence of a majority of General Assembly members through elections.
“The representation and accountability of the Security Council before the General Assembly should be enhanced,” Erdoğan said. He also called for strengthening the powers of the General Assembly and restoring a new balance between the two UN bodies.
The current five permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France. Each of them has veto power over Security Council decisions.
The proposal comes as Ankara continues to call for broader reform of the UN system. Erdoğan has repeatedly advocated changes to the Security Council’s structure and greater representation of states in international decision-making.
The Turkish president proposed building a broad coalition within the UN General Assembly around the principle that no country should have the permanent ability to block the will of the majority of the international community. He argued that reform should not simply mean extending veto privileges to additional states.
Erdoğan also proposed changing how the Security Council is formed. Under his plan, permanent membership would be abolished and all Security Council members would be elected by the General Assembly for fixed terms. Countries seeking another term would have to regain the confidence of a majority of General Assembly members through elections.
“The representation and accountability of the Security Council before the General Assembly should be enhanced,” Erdoğan said. He also called for strengthening the powers of the General Assembly and restoring a new balance between the two UN bodies.
The current five permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France. Each of them has veto power over Security Council decisions.
The proposal comes as Ankara continues to call for broader reform of the UN system. Erdoğan has repeatedly advocated changes to the Security Council’s structure and greater representation of states in international decision-making.
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