Apologies for the oversight. Here is the revised translation with “Turkey” corrected to “Türkiye” throughout the text:
The United Nations Has Exceeded Its Shelf Life; Only Its Funeral Prayer Remains Unsaid
According to Prof. Dr. Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, the United Nations (UN) has long outlived its relevance. He asserts that the UN has lost its functionality, with the United States imposing its unipolar vision, and warns that the U.S. may adopt an increasingly aggressive stance in its containment policy toward China, a key advocate of multipolarity.
President Erdoğan’s Address at the UN General Assembly
In his speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on world leaders, stating, “I address all world leaders: today is the day to stand resolutely with the oppressed people of Palestine for the sake of humanity.”
President Erdoğan began his address by expressing his hope that the 80th UN General Assembly would bring positive outcomes for humanity. He stated:
“At the outset of my speech, I wish to express my regret that President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, at a time when an increasing number of countries are recognizing the State of Palestine, is unable to be with us in person today. We stand at this podium not only to represent our own citizens but also to give voice to the sentiments of the Palestinian people, whose voices are being silenced. I extend my gratitude to all countries that have announced their recognition of the State of Palestine and urge those that have not yet done so to act promptly.”
Recalling that the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco 80 years ago and entered into force on October 24, 1945, President Erdoğan emphasized the opening words of the Charter’s first article:
“The purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security.” He continued, “As we gather here to mark the UN’s 80th anniversary, grave events are unfolding in many parts of the world, casting a shadow over these very words. In Gaza, in particular, a genocide has been ongoing before our eyes for over 700 days. Even as we meet here, civilians in Gaza are being killed. The number of civilian deaths in Gaza has exceeded 65,000, with the number of bodies still trapped under rubble unknown. Over 20,000 of those killed are children. In the past 23 months, Israel has ruthlessly taken the life of a child every hour in Gaza. These are not mere numbers, my friends; each one represents a life, an innocent human being. At this moment, people are being killed not only by weapons but also by the weapon of starvation. In the 21st century, under the gaze of the civilized world, 428 people, including 146 children, have died of hunger, and this number continues to rise.”
Analysis of the UN’s Role and Global Dynamics
In a discussion regarding the 80th UN General Assembly, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Seyfettin Erol addressed the UN’s failure in Gaza and the demands for reform from states advocating multipolarity. He remarked:
“We are talking about an organization whose shelf life has expired in a world that has lost its balance. The United Nations is merely awaiting its funeral prayer. It is an organization playing out its final moments. Perhaps at a time when the UN is needed most, it exists in name only. If we look at current practices, particularly those aligned with the U.S.’s preferences, all institutions and rules established in the post-Cold War era are on the brink of collapse and bankruptcy. With trust and credibility eroded, these organizations persist in a ‘business as usual’ façade until alternatives emerge. The UN is hosting this façade. We do not see the UN in action anywhere, including in Gaza. Even when UN missions are bombed there, it is as if the attacks occurred on Mars—the UN plays the three monkeys. Consequently, the organization’s prestige and deterrence have plummeted due to the philosophy adopted by the U.S. and the West, drifting far from its founding principles. It is heading toward the same fate as the League of Nations, racing toward a new fiasco. Why does the UN persist despite its failures? Because, currently, there is no other platform where all states can engage in lobbying. Additionally, it remains significant for the U.S. and others. States outside the U.S. can voice their grievances against it. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed four initiatives, emphasizing the need for reforms and restructuring within the UN to effectively serve as an umbrella organization for global security, cooperation, civilization, and development.”
Prof. Erol noted that President Erdoğan’s statement, “The world is bigger than five,” aligns with the perspectives of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, who also advocate for a multipolar world. This convergence is significant in Türkiye-Russian and Türkiye-Chinese relations. He highlighted the deepening divide within the UN between advocates of unipolarity, led by the U.S., and those supporting multipolarity, stating:
“The UN is now divided into two camps. Beyond the UN Security Council, there are proponents of unipolar and multipolar worldviews within the organization. While Europe has aspired to be a significant actor in a multipolar world, its alignment with the U.S. amid the Russia-Ukraine war—where the UN failed to deliver expected results—has shifted the issue from a Russia-Ukraine context to a Russia-Europe one. The U.S. has achieved two key objectives: controlling Europe and eliminating its multipolar aspirations, and strengthening its influence within NATO. Within the UN, we see two distinct stances: one group, led by President Erdoğan and Xi Jinping, advocates for a new international system built on cooperation, while another, led by the U.S. and Israel, pursues a new world order through chaos and crises. The UN remains an ineffective entity.”
Prof. Erol further observed that organizations like BRICS, SCO, and ASEAN represent new hope for the Global South and those labeled as “others” by the U.S. He suggested that Xi Jinping’s absence from the General Assembly may carry symbolic weight, possibly reflecting his view that participation is a waste of time or an unwillingness to be a prop in a U.S.-led spectacle. He also criticized procedural limitations, such as the five-minute speaking limit imposed on leaders, citing the example of President Erdoğan’s microphone being cut off, underscoring the UN’s functional inadequacies.
U.S. Strategy and Potential for New Crises
Prof. Erol warned that the U.S., in its effort to maintain global hegemony, may create new areas of crisis and chaos, particularly to isolate China and destabilize its Belt and Road Initiative. He stated:
“The U.S. is pursuing a policy of generating new crises to neutralize China’s growing influence. By fostering instability in regions like Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, the U.S. aims to disrupt China’s Belt and Road projects and its broader geopolitical strategy. The U.S. is also engaging in trade wars to pressure China’s economy and creating instability in areas like Taiwan. Through Israel’s actions, the U.S. seeks to marginalize China’s role in the Middle East, including its mediation efforts between Gulf states and Iran or among Palestinian factions. However, Israel’s aggressive policies may inadvertently open opportunities for China and other actors, as they fuel distrust in the U.S. and the West, creating space for new regional alliances.”
Türkiye’s Role in a Multipolar World
Highlighting Türkiye’s pivotal role in multipolar and multidimensional foreign policy, Prof. Erol referenced MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s proposal for a Türkiye-Russia-China (TRC) alliance, suggesting its potential feasibility. He noted:
“Türkiye stands at the center. As the late İsmet İnönü said, a new world order will emerge, and Türkiye will find its place in it. This perspective emerged from the crisis with the U.S. during the Johnson Letter era, which eroded trust in the U.S. and pushed Türkiye toward a balanced, multidimensional foreign policy. Since 2001, with the Eurasia cooperation action plan, Türkiye has increasingly embraced a Russian dimension, followed by a Chinese dimension. Amid U.S. attempts to persuade Türkiye with ‘carrots’ rather than threats, Türkiye has learned its lessons and charted its path. The TRC alliance, though not immediately realizable, is not far-fetched, especially as a counter to U.S. and Israeli threats. Türkiye’s participation in SCO meetings, where China treated it almost as a founding member, reflects this alignment. In the context of global crises, Türkiye, Russia, and China are pursuing deeper, constructive cooperation in areas like energy and food security, positioning themselves as key power centers in a rising East. Türkiye’s role as a balancing actor could be critical in resolving global crises, provided it is recognized by other actors.”
