Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a strong stance on the need for sweeping reforms in global governance, particularly criticizing the United Nations for its inability to prevent conflicts worldwide.
“The United Nations has failed to avert conflicts worldwide, particularly in Gaza, and has proven insufficient in addressing crises,” Erdogan asserted, emphasizing the organization’s shortcomings in fulfilling its mission.
Speaking during a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Erdogan underscored the urgency of reshaping international systems to address modern crises effectively. Highlighting Brazil’s leadership, Erdogan praised its initiative to spotlight “Global Governance Reform” during its G20 presidency. He specifically lauded Brazil’s bold position against what he described as “Israeli aggression” in Gaza.
Erdogan also detailed Türkiye’s actions at the UN, which include advocating for halting arms sales to Israel, ensuring humanitarian aid to Gaza, securing a lasting ceasefire, and advancing a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Meanwhile, the ongoing G20 Summit, hosted by Brazil on November 18-19, has been billed as a pivotal moment for reimagining global governance. The discussions aim to modernize key international institutions like the UN, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. The agenda also focuses on energy transitions and social inclusion on a global scale, with reforming international bodies as a centerpiece of the discussions.
Erdogan’s remarks come amid a backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza, where Israel’s military operations have reportedly resulted in over 43,000 deaths, while Hamas-led attacks on October 7 last year left more than 1,100 people dead in Israel, with over 200 taken hostage. Amid this turmoil, Erdogan continues to push for an immediate ceasefire.
