UN has failed to avert conflicts – Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed the importance of introducing global governance reforms, arguing that the United Nations has proved ineffective at resolving conflicts worldwide.

Erdogan made the remarks during a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, according to Türkiye’s directorate of communications.

An outspoken critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, Erdogan praised Brazil’s stance “against Israeli aggression” and shared details of Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts at the UN. These include calls for blocking arms sales to Israel, the delivery of uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza, establishing a permanent ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, and achieving a two-state solution.

The Turkish leader argued that “the United Nations has failed to avert conflicts worldwide, particularly in Gaza, and has proven insufficient in addressing crises.”

He also commended Brazil’s initiative of “bringing up ‘Global Governance Reform’ during its G20 presidency.”

Erdogan has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli military operations have killed at least 43,000 people. In Israel, the number of people killed in the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 last year was over 1,100, while more than 200 were taken captive.

The 2024 G20 Leaders’ Summit, hosted by Brazil on November 18-19, has been described by the organizers as a “fundamental event for the future of global governance.” The agenda will focus on reforming international institutions, advancing energy transitions, and fostering global social inclusion.

One of the sessions will be dedicated to global governance reforms, a cornerstone of Brazil’s G20 presidency, where heads of the states will discuss the potential modernization of key international institutions, including the UN, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.