UNITED NATIONS, Jan 29: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized on Thursday that global issues cannot be addressed by a single power and highlighted the necessity for a sustainable, just peace grounded in international law.
“Global problems will not be solved by one power calling the shots. Nor will they be solved by two powers carving the world into rival spheres of influence,” the UN chief stated at a news conference as he embarked on his 10th and final year in office.
When questioned about the identity of the “one power” or the “two powers” referenced in his opening statement, Guterres explained: “It is clear that the most powerful of the countries in the world is the United States. The idea that there are two poles, one centered in the US and one centered in China, that’s the second reference I made.
“And my point is, if we want a stable world, if you want a world in which peace can be sustained, in which development can be generalized, and in which, in the end, our values will prevail, we need to support multipolarity,” he added.
Guterres’ remarks followed shortly after US President Donald Trump launched his Board of Peace, including Pakistan, with an initial aim of consolidating a fragile Gaza ceasefire but with potential broader implications—a move that has raised concerns among various global powers.
He pointed out that the UN Security Council is the only entity with the authority to legally authorize the use of force in addressing threats to international peace and security.
Defending the UN Charter, Guterres asserted that no other organization, coalition, or country can legally compel member states to adhere to decisions concerning peace and security.
The UN chief highlighted that the Security Council’s authority to authorize force under international law is specific and mandated by the UN Charter.
Guterres cautioned that international law is being undermined, noting an increasing disregard for the UN Charter and international regulations.
He emphasized the UN’s role against attempts by other entities to challenge its authority, reaffirming that only the Security Council can make decisions legally binding on all UN member states.
His second five-year term includes significant global events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, the Israeli conflict in Gaza, and other international crises.
He warned that growing impunity, geopolitical divisions, and the weakening of multilateral institutions are destabilizing the international system.
“We are living in a world where actions—especially reckless ones—are provoking dangerous reactions,” Guterres said, adding that these are amplified by geopolitical divisions and magnified by a surge in impunity.
Emphasizing that “the law of power is prevailing over the power of law,” he stated: “International law is being ignored. Cooperation is eroding. Multilateral institutions are under attack from multiple fronts.”
He warned that unanswered violations undermine global stability, with perilous actions destabilizing the system without appropriate responses.
Guterres drew attention to the human cost, stating: “Impunity fuels today’s conflicts, escalates crises, widens mistrust, and allows powerful forces to exploit situations from all directions.”
He noted the impact of aid cuts, saying: “The reduction in humanitarian aid is triggering despair, displacement, and fatalities.”
Addressing climate change and technology, Guterres warned: “Every action that heats the planet triggers severe reactions—storms, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, rising seas,” and unregulated technologies lead to “instability.”
Speaking as the UN faces a financial crisis following US cuts to both voluntary funding and mandatory contributions to the organization’s budgets, Guterres mentioned a reform task force known as UN80 launched in March to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Trump has said the UN has “great potential” but criticized it for not supporting US-led peace initiatives fully.
“Despite all the challenges, the United Nations is striving to uphold our shared values,” Guterres declared.
“And we won’t give up. We are advocating for peace—just and sustainable peace anchored in international law. Peace that tackles root causes. Peace that endures beyond the signing of an agreement.”
Guterres also addressed the growing instability linked to technological changes, stressing the governance of artificial intelligence as crucial.
“We are witnessing perhaps the greatest power transfer of our era—not from governments to people, but from governments to private technology corporations,” he observed.
“When technologies influencing behavior, elections, markets, and even conflicts operate devoid of guardrails, the outcome is not innovation—it is instability.”
