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UN Secretary-General Guterres states superpowers cannot solve global problems in final address
Key points
- Superpowers alone cannot guarantee security or solve global problems.
- Geopolitical divides have deepened, and inequalities intensified.
- Guterres called for a new compact to regulate AI.
- A multilateral system with a representative UN is essential for global challenges.
Superpowers' Limitations Highlighted
António Guterres, the outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered his final address to the General Assembly, asserting that superpowers do not possess the sole military, economic, or technological power to ensure security or resolve global issues. He noted that the world's fault lines have widened significantly, indicating a shift from minor cracks to major divisions.
Decade of Challenges
Guterres reflected on the past decade, largely coinciding with his 10-year tenure, describing a period marked by devastating wars, targeted civilians, human rights abuses, and the weaponization of hunger. He also pointed to deepening geopolitical divides, intensified inequalities, and a fraying of trust. The climate crisis has become a daily reality, and artificial intelligence has advanced at an unforeseen pace, blindsiding even its creators.
Specific Criticisms and Calls to Action
Without naming Israel, Guterres described the aftermath of the October 2023 Hamas attack as an "onslaught on Palestinians in Gaza" with unprecedented killing and destruction. He criticized energy companies for "treating the world as an open sewer" and highlighted the "stunning" omission of Africa from a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. A key proposal was the call for a new international compact to regulate artificial intelligence.
The Need for Multilateralism
The 77-year-old diplomat argued that a multilateral system, centered on a more representative United Nations, is the only viable approach to address the current convergence of global problems. He cautioned that humanity's mechanisms for collective action are under increasing strain precisely when an unprecedented array of threats demands unified responses. Guterres stressed the importance of avoiding hegemonic tendencies and the "great fracture" – a division of the world into two rival blocs with separate economic, technological, and security systems.
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Reporting from
Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated in his final address to the General Assembly that superpowers lack the military, economic, and technological capacity to guarantee security or resolve global issues. He emphasized the need for a multilateral system centered on a newly representative UN to address converging threats, including the climate crisis and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.