Erdogan calls for abolition of UN Security Council veto

Tuesday 22 September 2026 - 13:00

By: Azzat Manal

Erdogan calls for abolition of UN Security Council veto

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed his call for a major overhaul of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the body’s current structure no longer reflects the realities of the contemporary international system. His proposal includes abolishing the veto power and ending the system of permanent membership.

In an article published by Bloomberg, Erdogan argued that removing the veto should be at the heart of any meaningful reform of the Security Council. He said recent global crises, including pandemics, energy disruptions, supply-chain problems and regional conflicts, had demonstrated the limitations of leaving major international decisions in the hands of a small number of capitals.

The Turkish president has long criticized the concentration of decision-making power within the Security Council’s five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. His longstanding slogan that “the world is bigger than five” reflects Ankara’s position that global institutions should provide broader representation for the international community.

Rather than simply adding more permanent members, Erdogan proposed eliminating permanent seats altogether. Under his suggested model, all Security Council members would be elected by the UN General Assembly for fixed terms, with countries seeking another term required to secure the support of a majority of General Assembly members through elections.

Erdogan also called for a stronger role for the General Assembly and greater accountability from the Security Council. He argued that expanding the number of countries holding permanent privileges would not fundamentally resolve concerns over the concentration of power, but could instead extend the existing system of privileges.

The proposal comes amid renewed international debate over the effectiveness and representativeness of the Security Council. The five permanent members currently hold veto powers that can prevent substantive council resolutions from being adopted, making reform a longstanding issue within the United Nations system.

Erdogan’s latest intervention adds to Türkiye’s broader campaign for changes to the international decision-making system. Ankara has repeatedly argued that the UN should better reflect the distribution of political, economic and diplomatic influence that has emerged since the organization was established after World War II.

Any fundamental change to the Security Council would require broad international agreement and amendments to the UN Charter, making reform a complex diplomatic process involving the organization’s wider membership as well as the existing permanent members.