The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for a reform of the UN Security Council, arguing it is currently unable to determine humanity’s future. He shared this view during a dinner with ambassadors in Ankara, stressing the urgent need for fundamental changes to the body that still holds decisive veto power in important global matters. [Citation: Ankara remarks reported by multiple outlets and summarized for context].
According to Erdogan, the Security Council must undergo rapid and comprehensive reform because it lacks the capacity to guide the course of humanity. The essence of his stance is that the council should better reflect today’s multipolar landscape and the broader interests of the international community. [Citation: Contemporary coverage of the remark].
Earlier, it was noted that Russia held the presidency of the UN Security Council for a one-month period. This leadership role sits within the council’s rotating presidency system, which can influence which topics receive formal discussion at given times. [Citation: Summary of council presidencies].
Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, outlined the focus areas for upcoming discussions. He highlighted multipolarity, the Middle East crisis, and concerns about the export of arms without sufficient controls as the central topics on the agenda. He also indicated that formal meetings about the situation in Ukraine were not yet scheduled. [Citation: Statements from the Russian delegation].
Ria Novosti has reported that Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, is expected to preside over several sessions, underscoring Russia’s active role in steering council conversations during this period. [Citation: Reporting on anticipated chairing duties].
In recent history, Mozambique presided over the UN Security Council, marking a notable instance of rotating leadership. The last time Russia chaired the council was in February 2022, highlighting how the presidency rotates among member states. [Citation: Council presidency chronology].