Erdogan’s U.N. Plan Would Further Undercut Israel’s Position

Bloomberg published an op-ed today (Tuesday) by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In it, the Turkish president called for U.N. reform centered on eliminating the veto power currently held by the permanent members of the Security Council. It should be noted that Erdogan has repeatedly argued that the use of the U.S. veto in the Security Council has saved Israel from measures against it.

Erdogan argues that "the current international mechanisms are outdated and can no longer address today’s crises. The tragedies of recent years, from global pandemics and energy crises to severe supply-chain disruptions and regional conflicts, have proven beyond any doubt that leaving the resolution of global crises in the hands of a handful of capitals is not consistent with today’s reality."

The Turkish president believes that the U.N. Security Council still reflects the rigid balance of power from the period after World War II, and that a "more effective, equitable, and responsible approach to international representation" is therefore needed.

According to Erdogan, "our call that ‘the world is bigger than five’ is an open invitation to embrace a broader understanding of global responsibility. We call for building a broad coalition within the General Assembly around the democratic principle that no country should have the authority to permanently block the will of the majority of the international community. Security Council members would be elected by the General Assembly on a rotating basis for fixed terms. Countries seeking another term would be required to regain the trust of a majority of member states through an election process."