António Guterres Urges UN Security Council to Prioritize Peacemaking

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres briefed the UN Security Council in New York on September 18, 2026, to warn against the increasing strain on peacekeeping operations. He argued that forces are frequently under-resourced, outgunned, and deployed into conflict zones where no peace exists to maintain, leaving them exposed to violence they are not equipped to counter.

Guterres proposed a strategic reset to prioritize peacemaking over peacekeeping, asserting that operations should only deploy when a robust ceasefire or peace agreement is already in place. He stated that the UN cannot "keep peace where there is no peace to keep" and emphasized that peacekeeping must be a political instrument rather than a substitute for political solutions.

To modernize these efforts, Guterres outlined five priorities: prioritizing peacemaking, forging political compacts with host states, creating mandates with clear exit strategies, implementing modern technology and predictable funding, and strengthening networks with regional partners like the African Union. He noted that the nature of conflict has shifted due to lethal autonomous weapons and AI-driven disinformation, necessitating a fundamental change in how the UN approaches global stability.