Türkiye's president is calling for a fundamental redesign of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that global decisions should not remain concentrated in the hands of five permanent members.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has renewed his call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the current structure gives disproportionate influence to its five permanent members. He has called for the veto system to be abolished, a stronger General Assembly and a Security Council whose members are elected for defined terms.
The debate over who should have the greatest influence inside the United Nations is gaining renewed attention as countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions push for a more representative international system.
During the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan again challenged the structure of the Security Council, arguing that the international system has not kept pace with changes in global politics, economics and diplomacy.
Why Erdoğan Says the System Needs to Change
Erdoğan has repeatedly used the phrase "the world is bigger than five" to describe his criticism of the current Security Council structure.
His argument is based on the concentration of formal power within the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. These five countries hold veto power over substantive Security Council decisions.
Erdoğan argued in September 2026 that it is difficult to describe a system as fully representative when the will of more than 190 UN member states can be constrained by decisions involving the five permanent members.
What the Security Council Looks Like Today
The Security Council currently has 15 members. Five are permanent members, while 10 are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
The permanent members have a special veto power. A negative vote from any one of them can prevent the adoption of a substantive resolution, even when a majority of Council members support it.
The arrangement dates back to the creation of the United Nations after the Second World War. The international balance of power, however, has changed considerably since then, creating pressure for a structure that gives greater representation to regions and countries that were less influential when the system was created.
Erdoğan Wants More Than New Permanent Members
Erdoğan's proposal goes beyond simply adding new permanent members to the Council. He has argued that expanding the number of countries with permanent veto power would not necessarily solve the underlying concentration of authority.
Instead, he has called for the abolition of the veto privilege and for a Security Council in which members are elected by the General Assembly for defined terms.
Under the model he has outlined, countries seeking another term would need to regain the confidence of the wider UN membership through elections. He has also called for the General Assembly to have a stronger role in global decision-making.
A Broader Debate Over Global Representation
Türkiye's position is part of a much wider debate. African countries have been pushing for permanent African representation, while other governments have proposed different models for expanding or restructuring the Council.
The argument is not limited to geography. Governments are also debating how veto power should work, how long members should serve, how regions should be represented and how the Security Council should be held accountable to the wider UN membership.
The UN itself has been conducting intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform for years. Member states have submitted different models, but there is still no final agreement on a comprehensive restructuring of the Council.
Why Reform Is Difficult
Changing the Security Council is legally and politically complicated. Major reforms require broad agreement among UN member states and changes to the UN Charter.
Countries also disagree over what the final structure should look like. Some proposals seek additional permanent seats, while others favour longer elected terms or regional arrangements. The question of whether new permanent members should receive veto powers is another major point of disagreement.
Erdoğan's proposal therefore represents one position within a much larger reform process rather than an agreed UN plan.
Erdoğan's proposal puts one of the UN's longest-running questions back in focus: whether an institution created around the power structure of 1945 can adequately represent the international system of today.
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