In a stirring address to mark the 80th anniversary of the first UN General Assembly session, Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a passionate plea for the preservation of multilateralism and international law. Delivering his speech in London’s Methodist Central Hall, the same venue as the historic 1946 gathering, Guterres warned of “powerful forces lining up to undermine global cooperation” during these times of deepening uncertainty.
Reflecting on the UN’s founding resolution focused on disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Guterres highlighted the modern-day threats facing the planet, from the climate crisis to the dangers of cyberspace. He noted that global military spending has reached a staggering $2.7 trillion, over 200 times the UK’s current aid budget and equivalent to more than 70% of Britain’s entire economy.
“As the planet broke heat records, fossil fuel profits continued to surge. And in cyberspace, algorithms rewarded falsehoods, fuelled hatred, and provided authoritarians with powerful tools of control,” the Secretary-General told the audience.
Guterres’ impassioned plea comes at a time of significant funding challenges for the UN, driven largely by decisions made by the Trump administration in the United States. The US has announced it will be allocating just $2 billion to UN humanitarian assistance, a fraction of its previous contributions as the leading donor. This announcement was accompanied by a warning from the State Department that the global body must “adapt, shrink or die” and that demands would be imposed on recipient countries.
Just over a week later, the US also announced its withdrawal from multiple UN agencies and its key climate treaty. Experts warn that these funding cuts will lead to a diminished and less effective international aid system, with the UN already stating that a funding shortfall threatens to cripple its global peacekeeping operations.
However, Guterres remains steadfast in his commitment to reform, saying that the “United Nations is more agile, more coordinated and more responsive” in the face of these challenges. As the world grapples with an array of complex global issues, his call for the preservation of multilateralism and international law serves as a rallying cry for unity and collective action.