Erdoğan calls for end to UN Security Council veto and permanent seats

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for the abolition of veto powers and permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council, proposing a system in which all members would instead be elected for fixed terms.

In an article published by Bloomberg on Monday (21 September), Erdoğan argued that the current international system no longer reflects global political and economic realities and gives too much decision-making power to a small group of countries.

“It is essential to turn the need for reform into a concrete roadmap,” Erdoğan said. “At the centre of this roadmap should be the abolition of the veto privilege.”

The Security Council currently has 15 members. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. hold permanent seats and veto powers, while the remaining 10 members are elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.

Erdoğan proposes fully elected Security Council

Erdoğan argued that simply adding more permanent members would not solve what he described as an unequal distribution of power.

Instead, he proposed a Security Council without permanent seats, with members elected by the 193-member General Assembly for fixed terms. Countries seeking another term would have to secure the support of a majority of UN members again.

“Representation and accountability of the Security Council before the General Assembly should be enhanced,” he said.

Erdoğan has long promoted the slogan “the world is bigger than five”, referring to the five permanent Security Council members, but his latest proposal lays out a more specific model for reform.

Security Council reform has been debated at the UN for years. Negotiations during the 2026 General Assembly session showed broad support among member states for abolishing the veto, but substantial disagreements remain over permanent membership and what a reformed council should look like.

Any change to the veto or permanent membership would require an amendment to the UN Charter. Such an amendment needs approval from two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN members, including all five current permanent Security Council members.

Erdoğan said Türkiye would continue supporting efforts to give elected members greater influence and strengthen the role of the General Assembly.

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