President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed calls for greater Muslim representation in global decision-making bodies, emphasizing the need for U.N. Security Council reform.
“Muslims, who make up a quarter of the world's population, should be represented as they deserve,” he said at the 16th Traditional Iftar Dinner with Ambassadors in Ankara on Monday.
He argued that global governance structures have failed to adapt to changing realities, adding that an Islamic country with veto power on the U.N. Security Council is not just necessary but essential. “The more resistance there is to this wave of change, the more numerous and severe the problems will become,” he warned.
Erdogan linked this stagnation to the rise of Islamophobia, anti-migrant sentiment, and trade wars, saying they are pushing the rules-based international system toward dysfunction. “This mindset paves the way for the law of the jungle,” he said, cautioning that an increasingly unjust world order is leaving the weak to suffer.
“If left unchecked, this will inevitably lead to political and military upheaval, the early signs of which are already visible,” he added. Humanity, he stressed, cannot afford to ignore these challenges, dismiss looming dangers, or expect time to resolve them.
Reiterating his well-known stance that "the world is bigger than five," Erdogan said the issue is not just about solving problems but replacing a flawed global system. “The time for global decision-making bodies to adapt to the world’s changing conditions is long overdue,” he stated.
Meanwhile, he underscored Turkiye’s strategic importance to Europe, asserting that the continent’s security is inconceivable without it. Describing Turkiye’s EU membership as a "strategic priority," he reaffirmed the country's role as an "inseparable part of Europe."
"It is becoming increasingly difficult for Europe to maintain its position as a global actor without Turkiye securing its rightful place," Erdogan said.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
