United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent reform of the Security Council, attributing its ongoing paralysis to deep geopolitical divisions among major powers. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday in New York, Guterres criticized permanent members of the council for violating international law while simultaneously obstructing its ability to act.
“We have geopolitical divides, and in these geopolitical divides, we have powers that themselves violate international law and sit in the Security Council … and that has been paralysing the Security Council,” Guterres said. He emphasized the need for a redistribution of power within the council, arguing that current power structures do not reflect global realities and hinder effective governance.
The UN chief highlighted the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key example of such challenges. Guterres condemned what he described as ongoing Israeli atrocities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, referring to “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing.” He expressed concern over what he called “gradual annexation in the West Bank” and violations perpetrated by settlers with backing from Israeli security forces. According to Guterres, achieving peace in the Middle East hinges on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli dispute and reaffirmed the necessity of a two-state solution.
On the situation in Ukraine, Guterres underscored the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and creating conditions for a just peace. He signaled a willingness to facilitate Ukraine peace talks at the upcoming UN General Assembly if the involved parties agree. “It is absolutely essential to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine and to create conditions to move towards a just peace,” he said, warning of the conflict’s ongoing toll on the global economy.
Guterres also addressed the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence (AI), warning of the risks posed by unchecked advancements. He called for a “global and coordinated” approach to managing AI technologies, noting concerns expressed by experts working directly on AI development. This follows recent calls from industry figures urging a slowdown in AI progress to establish safety regulations. The secretary-general framed these technological risks alongside other pressing challenges, including the climate crisis and growing global inequalities, underscoring the critical importance of international cooperation in tackling these existential threats.