United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world’s political and geopolitical divisions are widening, urging leaders gathering for the 81st UN General Assembly to rebuild international cooperation.
In his final opening address to the General Assembly before leaving office at the end of 2026, Guterres said conflicts, climate change, inequality and rapid advances in artificial intelligence were creating an unprecedented convergence of global challenges.
He called for a world built on interdependence rather than fragmentation and mistrust, arguing that major powers cannot resolve the world’s problems through military or economic strength alone.
Guterres also highlighted concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence, warning against technology being deployed without adequate accountability and oversight. He called for safeguards to prevent autonomous systems from making life-and-death decisions.
The UN chief urged greater reform of international institutions, including the Security Council, to reflect changes in the global balance of power and strengthen confidence in multilateral cooperation.
The General Assembly’s high-level debate, running from September 22 to 28, brings together leaders and senior officials from the UN’s 193 member states under the theme of restoring trust and managing transformation.
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