UN Chief Antonio Guterres Demands Urgent Security Council Reform Amid Deep Geopolitical Divides

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent reform of the Security Council, blaming the conduct of major powers for the body's severe paralysis. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday regarding ignored calls to respect international law, Guterres pointed directly to deep geopolitical divisions among major powers.

“We have geopolitical divides, and in these geopolitical divides, we have powers that themselves violate international law and sit in the Security Council... and that has been paralysing the Security Council,” Guterres stated. He emphasized that redistributing power is an absolute priority because current power relations no longer reflect global realities.

Addressing the Middle East, Guterres highlighted the impunity surrounding ongoing actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He stressed that peace in the region is impossible without resolving the Palestinian-Israeli crisis and called for an immediate halt to actions in occupied Palestinian territory, noting gradual annexation in the West Bank and settler violations backed by Israeli security forces. A lasting peace, he added, requires a two-state solution.

Turning to Eastern Europe, Guterres discussed the war in Ukraine and the outlook for a ceasefire, stating he would welcome facilitating trilateral Ukraine peace talks at the UN General Assembly should key parties agree. He noted that the protracted conflict continues to inflict devastating consequences on the global economy.

On the topic of technology, the UN chief urged global coordination to control artificial intelligence and counter the threat of runaway AI, echoing warnings that the current AI race risks a race to the bottom. Concluding his remarks, Guterres warned that international cooperation is more critical than ever as the world confronts three existential threats: runaway artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, and deepening inequalities.