The world is deeply divided, and the U.N.’s most powerful body is currently paralyzed when it comes to resolving conflicts. However, the United Nations’ top official believes there is a path forward.
As he prepares to leave office at the end of the year after nearly a decade of service, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres — often known for his somber assessments of the planet’s condition — said Thursday that he finds reason for hope and possibility in the years ahead. But that, he notes, is only possible if global governments can finally cooperate to curb conflict, address inequality, and manage the rapidly emerging juggernaut of artificial intelligence.
“I believe in a number of fundamental things that need to be done, and need to happen for the world to be better — and I’m determined to fight to make those things happen,” Guterres told The Associated Press in a sit-down interview four days before world leaders convene for their annual meeting at the U.N. General Assembly.
His message to the leaders and ministers from the 193 U.N. member nations arriving at headquarters was direct: They must seriously analyze the fact that the world faces at least three existential threats — runaway artificial intelligence, accelerating climate change, and rising inequality that is becoming a major driver of instability and conflict.
Guterres also warned that a “huge pressures will eventually force a realization that such obstacles cannot be overcome in isolation and require robust international cooperation.
This is particularly relevant, he said, regarding the reform of institutions established by the victors of World War II — specifically the U.N. Security Council and major financial bodies like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He argued that these organizations must be overhauled to reflect 21st-century realities, ensuring that emerging economies and powers are properly represented in global governance.
As U.N. chief, the secretary-general lacks an army, an intelligence service, and significant financial rels: the ability to speak out on global issues and the authority to convene the world’s nations
Due to geopolitical fractures, Guterres admitted the United Nations has “no leverage” to promote peace in Ukraine or the Middle East. Nevertheless, he emphasized his commitment to defending the U.N. Charter, upholding the territorial integrity of nations, and speaking out against “horrible violations of human rights.”
He condemned Hamas’ “intolerable” attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and he also condemned “the horrible situation that Israel has created in Gaza with levels of death and destruction that have no parallel in the history of the United Nations.”
The United Nations does not operate with “a transactional approach to politics,” he stressed. It must serve as “a reference of values and principles for the whole world, because someone must affirm that the law of force cannot prevail over the force of law.”
“That, of course, sometimes limits our capacity to negotiate an agreement because one of the sides is a clear violator that doesn’t like to listen to the truth. But that will never, never make us move away from what are the values in which a civilized society must be based,” the U.N. chief said.
He says the AI revolution will loom over this year’s UNGA leaders’ meeting
This year’s global summit is also expected to highlight the future of the U.N. and the risks associated with artificial intelligence potentially spiraling beyond human control.
Guterres has advocated for international collaboration and the implementation of guardrails for AI, which he described as “a universal problem.” To address this growing challenge, he suggested that nations developing high-capacity AI should share information, establish transparency protocols, implement safety measures, and “help create what ideally would be a multilateral mechanism to guarantee that risks can be avoided.”
Regarding the United Nations itself, the organization faces significant financial hurdles, largely stemming from the U.S. failing to pay billions of dollars toward its regular operating budget and the separate budget for peacekeeping operations. Despite this, the organization has avoided a financial collapse and continues to undergo major reforms, which the Trump administration has long advocated for.
Even with fewer rel of public expenditure in any organization of any country in the world.”
Guterres has worked with U.S. President Donald Trump for nearly six of his 10 years leading the U.N., and he highlighted the importance of the U.S.-U.N. relationship, which he described as having been both challenging and productive at different times. Currently, he noted, the U.N. is working alongside the U.S. on peace negotiations in Western Sahara and other regions.
When he meets with Trump on Tuesday, the first day of the global gathering, Guterres said he intends to discuss peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, adding, “and I hope that these two objectives might be able to unite the efforts of not only the U.S. and the U.N. but the whole of the international community.”
