Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for reform of the international system, arguing that global peace and security cannot be achieved without justice and that the United Nations’ current structure undermines fair representation and international trust.

Addressing the International Justice Summit in Istanbul on Friday, Erdoğan criticised a system in which the interests and decisions of more than 190 countries can be constrained by the veto powers of five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

“International peace and security cannot be established without justice,” Erdoğan said, describing the international system as deeply weakened in terms of representation, effectiveness and legitimacy.

“We all know that a structure where the will of over 190 countries under the roof of the United Nations is bound by just five countries that hold veto prerogative is not fair and sound,” he added.

Erdoğan has repeatedly called for restructuring the United Nations under his longstanding slogan, “The world is bigger than five,” arguing that the international body must better reflect the interests and perspectives of countries across different regions.

At the summit, he stressed that justice requires more than legal rules, saying that fairness, equality before the law and the protection of rights and freedoms are essential to a functioning system of justice.

Erdoğan also criticised what he described as the failure of the international community to enforce international law and hold those responsible for violations accountable, citing the situation in Gaza as a major example.

He said the continued killing of civilians, destruction of schools, hospitals and places of worship, and the failure to implement international court rulings had exposed serious weaknesses in the global system.

“This is a test of humanity for the whole world,” Erdoğan said, calling for those responsible for crimes in Gaza to be held accountable under the law.

The Turkish president said Ankara had demonstrated its position through its application to intervene in the case brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice, its suspension of trade with Israel and measures seeking accountability over an attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla, according to his remarks.

He added that Türkiye would continue to defend the rights of people facing injustice and called on the international community to support efforts to strengthen accountability and ensure that international law is applied consistently.

The summit, held at Istanbul’s Çırağan Palace under the theme “The Future of Justice Is a Shared Responsibility for Humanity,” brought together participants to discuss international humanitarian law, legal frameworks for the energy transition, justice in the digital world, migration and the sharing of responsibility.

Erdoğan also called for stronger international cooperation against cross-border and organised crime, warning that criminal networks increasingly exploit digital technologies, cryptocurrencies and social media to operate across national borders.

He said effective international judicial cooperation was essential to prevent suspects from evading justice by moving between countries.

Türkiye secured the return of 294 people to the country during the first nine months of 2026 and brought back another 736 people in connection with various international wanted notices, Erdoğan said.

He concluded by reiterating that a fairer international order was necessary to restore confidence in global institutions and ensure that justice, rather than the interests of powerful states, guided efforts to maintain peace and security. (ILKHA)