Key facts
- Russia supports expanding the UN Security Council's permanent membership.
- Russia wants to retain the veto power within the UN Security Council.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the abolition of the UN Security Council's veto power.
- Erdogan stated the UN has become unable to fulfill its mission of preserving peace.
- Erdogan criticized the current UN Security Council structure as unfair, with five countries' will subject to the whims of the majority.
Russia supports reforming the UN Security Council to include more permanent members but insists on retaining the veto power, according to Kremlin statements. This position comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has advocated for a more inclusive structure, calling for the abolition of both permanent membership and the veto privilege.
Erdogan, addressing the UN General Assembly, argued that the current Security Council composition, established after World War II, no longer reflects the global landscape and is unable to fulfill its mission of maintaining peace. He stated that a system where the will of over 190 countries is subject to the decisions of five nations is neither fair nor trustworthy.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also acknowledged that the Security Council's current makeup is outdated and has expressed openness to proposals limiting the veto right, particularly in cases of severe human rights violations. Russia and China have previously indicated support for greater representation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America on the Security Council.