United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered his final address to the General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, warning world leaders that urgent challenges threaten global stability and calling for a reversal of current trends before it is too late. Speaking shortly before the end of his term in December, Guterres outlined four critical tests shaping the future: controlling war and peace, addressing wealth concentration and inequality, tackling climate change and environmental degradation, and managing the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
“The fault lines in our world are widening. Cracks have become canyons,” Guterres said, underscoring the growing divisions between nations. He emphasized that even powerful countries have limits to their influence and suggested that superpowers must recognize those limits to foster a more cooperative international order.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, delivering his first address to the General Assembly, described the global situation as facing “a profound leadership crisis.” He criticized the United Nations Security Council, highlighting how its five permanent members—the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom—exercise veto power that has, in his view, held the international community “hostage” and impeded decisive action.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine featured prominently in speeches by several leaders. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda called the war the “greatest threat to world order” and condemned violations of Lithuanian airspace using combat drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the assembly and discussed the conflict by phone over the weekend amid efforts by the White House to revive negotiations.
Trump expressed cautious optimism about potential progress, stating that discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin were ongoing and noting his respect for Ukrainian fighters. However, his remarks came amid growing skepticism among traditional American allies about the U.S.’s commitment to longstanding international partnerships.
Trump’s participation included meetings regarding Iran, where Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and advisor on Middle East affairs. Trump described a three-hour meeting as “very good” but did not disclose details. He also expressed confidence that a settlement with Iran would eventually be reached.
During a separate event, Trump signed a revised security agreement concerning Greenland with officials from Greenland and Denmark. While specifics were limited, the accord appeared less ambitious than Trump’s earlier threats to purchase or seize the semi-autonomous Danish territory. He announced plans to build two new U.S. military bases on Greenland, actions reportedly possible without new agreements.
On the issue of artificial intelligence, Trump rejected calls from industry leaders to impose new restrictions, dismissing concerns as linked to prior political controversies. “We will only encourage super intelligence,” he said, opposing efforts to limit the technology’s development.
Turning to broader regional tensions, Guterres lamented the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, declaring, “Enough is enough.” His remarks reflected concern over ongoing crises worldwide during a period marked by intense geopolitical rivalries, war, environmental pressures, and technological shifts.