Erdogan calls on UN to abolish Security Council veto power

September 22, 2026 at 10:15 AM2 min

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the United Nations to abolish the Security Council veto power in an article for Bloomberg. He argued that the veto concentrates decision-making power in a few states and that reform must start with its elimination. Erdogan said a broad coalition should be formed in the General Assembly so no state can permanently block the will of the international majority.

Key Facts

Erdogan made the call in an article for Bloomberg titled "The UN should abolish the Security Council veto right."
He said the Security Council still reflects the post-World War II structure and that a more effective, fair, and accountable representation is urgently needed.
Erdogan argued that adding new privileged members to the Security Council would not solve the concentration of decision-making power but would expand the privileged structure.
He called for a broad coalition in the General Assembly based on the principle that no state should have the power to permanently block the will of the majority of the international community.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Security Council was paralyzed by geopolitical divisions, creating an atmosphere of impunity.

Veto Abolition Call

Erdogan wrote that tragedies of recent years, including pandemics, energy crises, supply chain disruptions, and regional conflicts, show that leaving global crisis resolution to a handful of capitals is no longer compatible with today's realities. He stressed that adapting global decision-making mechanisms to current conditions can no longer be postponed. The Turkish leader said the abolition of the veto should be both the starting point and the fundamental strategic goal of any meaningful reform. He added that reform cannot mean extending this right to other states.

Security Council Structure

Erdogan noted that the UN Security Council still reflects the post-war era structure. He said a more effective, fair, and accountable approach to representation has become essential. The president argued that adding new privileged members to the Security Council would not solve the problem of decision-making power concentrated in a few states; rather, it would expand the scope of the privileged structure. He called for a broad coalition within the General Assembly based on the principle that no state should have the authority to permanently obstruct the will of the majority of the international community.

UN Secretary-General's Warning

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Security Council was paralyzed by geopolitical divisions, creating an atmosphere of impunity. Guterres pointed out that modern armed conflicts are becoming "increasingly complex and numerous."