Guterres Calls for UN Reform in Final General Assembly Address

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered his final address to the General Assembly in New York, warning that global divisions have widened into canyons. Guterres identified four critical tests facing the international community: war and peace, wealth inequality, climate chaos, and the rise of artificial intelligence. He argued that the current system of world governance reflects a bygone age and called for a more representative multilateral system, specifically advocating for the expansion of the UN Security Council to include permanent African representation.

During the assembly, Guterres condemned the Government of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a blatant violation of the UN Charter. He also criticized the Cabinet of Israel for its military campaign in Gaza, which he called unprecedented in its scale of destruction, and warned that settlement expansion in the West Bank raises the specter of ethnic cleansing. He urged all parties to comply with International Court of Justice provisional measures.

U.S. President Donald Trump offered a contrasting perspective, touting American power and criticizing the UN for imposing a far-left agenda of globalist bureaucrats. Trump also dismissed warnings regarding rogue AI technology as a hoax, while Guterres demanded that life-and-death decisions never be surrendered to machines. As Guterres prepares to leave office on December 31, 2026, he vowed to continue championing the conviction that peace is possible. The assembly also noted that the United Nations has achieved gender parity across its senior leadership and professional staff for the first time in its history.