Erdoğan: UN Must End Veto Power

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for a sweeping reform of the global governance architecture, urging the United Nations to abolish the veto power held by the five permanent members of the Security Council. In a commentary published by Bloomberg, Erdoğan argued that today’s crises—pandemics, energy shortages, supply‑chain disruptions and regional conflicts—demonstrate that the world’s problems can no longer be decided by a handful of capitals.

He stressed that the Security Council still reflects the post‑World‑War‑II order and that a more effective, equitable and accountable system of representation is indispensable. “The world is bigger than five,” Erdoğan said, warning that adding new privileged seats would merely expand an outdated hierarchy. He advocated removing the veto altogether and rebalancing power between the Council and the General Assembly, proposing a structure without permanent members where seats rotate among states. This, he said, would enhance the Council’s representativeness and make it more accountable to the broader UN membership.

Erdoğan also highlighted the need to guarantee developing countries’ right to development and access to finance, noting the rising economic weight of Asia and Africa’s demand for a stronger voice. He affirmed that Turkey, with its deep diplomatic tradition and multilateral experience, will continue to support the reform effort and help build a “more just world” through inclusive dialogue.