United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the state of international diplomacy, declaring that "powerful forces" are actively working to undermine global cooperation. He made these remarks during a significant speech in London marking a historic UN anniversary.
A Warning from London on a Historic Anniversary
Guterres delivered his address on Saturday at the Methodist Central Hall in London. This location holds deep symbolic value, as it was where representatives from 51 nations gathered on January 10, 1946, for the very first session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was held in London because the UN's permanent headquarters in New York had not yet been constructed.
The Secretary-General, whose term concludes on December 31 of this year, used the 80th-anniversary occasion to pay tribute to Britain's foundational role in creating and championing the United Nations. However, his speech quickly turned to the severe challenges facing the multilateral system today.
2025: A Profoundly Challenging Year for Global Unity
Guterres did not mince words in his assessment of the recent past. He described 2025 as a "profoundly challenging year for international cooperation and the values of the UN." While not listing every incident, the context of his warning is clear against a backdrop of heightened global tensions.
This includes the emergency UN Security Council meeting held on June 22, 2025, which Guterres addressed. That session was convened after the United States, under President Donald Trump, announced joint airstrikes with Israel on nuclear sites in Iran. The meeting, requested by Iran, also saw Russia, China, and Pakistan push for a resolution demanding an immediate Middle East ceasefire.
"We see powerful forces lining up to undermine global cooperation," Guterres stated bluntly. Yet, he struck a note of determined optimism, adding, "Despite these rough seas, we sail ahead."
Quiet Victories That Matter
To counter the narrative of inevitable division, the UN chief pointed to concrete achievements born from diplomacy. He highlighted the new treaty on marine biological diversity as a prime example of continued progress.
This landmark agreement establishes the first legal framework for conserving and sustainably using marine life in the vast two-thirds of the world's oceans that lie beyond any single nation's jurisdiction. Guterres argued that such successes often go unnoticed.
"These quiet victories of international cooperation — the wars prevented, the famine averted, the vital treaties secured — do not always make the headlines," he said. "Yet they are real. And they matter." His message underscored that effective multilateralism, though under threat, continues to deliver essential results for global peace and security.
