UN Leaders Demand Security Council Reform and AI Governance

During the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Antonio Guterres and several world leaders demanded systemic reforms to the UN Security Council and the global financial system. Guterres described the lack of permanent African representation on the Security Council as unjust and indefensible, while also calling for tripled climate adaptation funding for developing nations and a multilateral framework to manage the risks of artificial intelligence.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot urged the consistent application of international law across all conflicts, specifically citing Palestine, Sudan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti. Prevot argued that allowing borders to be changed by force in Ukraine would jeopardize global security and pledged Belgium's support for the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

President To Lam of Vietnam proposed four orientations for managing global change, emphasizing the restoration of international trust through the UN Charter. He advocated for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, urged the United States to end its unilateral embargo against Cuba, and reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to resolving South China Sea disputes peacefully under UNCLOS 1982. Both Lam and Prevot joined Guterres in calling for broader UN institutional reforms to improve regional representation and better serve developing nations.