Erdogan urges UN Security Council veto abolition, calls system unjust

September 26, 2026 at 06:17 PM1 min

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for abolishing the UN Security Council veto, arguing the current system is unjust and hinders global stability. He proposed electing all Security Council members and strengthening the General Assembly. The call comes as the council remains deadlocked on Gaza, Ukraine, and other crises.

Key Facts

Erdogan called the veto system 'unjust' and said it hinders 'global stability and peace'.
The US has vetoed seven resolutions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the past three years, including five calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Erdogan wrote in a September 22 Bloomberg article that the UNSC structure developed eight decades ago no longer meets the needs of a changing world.
Erdogan proposed that the UN General Assembly elect all UNSC members for set terms.

The Veto Mechanism

The UN Security Council has five permanent members—the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China—each holding veto power over substantive resolutions. A single veto from any permanent member can block a resolution even if the other 14 council members vote in favour. Russian vetoes have prevented the UNSC from passing firm resolutions on the war in Ukraine.

Erdogan's Reform Proposal

Erdogan called for a complete overhaul of the UNSC, including ending permanent membership and eliminating veto power. He argued that leaving global crises to the will of a handful of capitals is incompatible with today's realities. Erdogan said countries seeking to serve on the council would have to regain the confidence of the majority of member states through elections. He made the proposal during his address to the UN General Assembly, saying a system where the will of more than 190 countries is subject to the whims of five is neither fair nor capable of establishing trust.