In his final address to the UN General Assembly, outgoing secretary general António Guterres warned that the world faces an unprecedented convergence of threats, while international cooperation is weakening. He argued that military, economic and technological superpowers cannot resolve global problems alone, and called for a more representative, law-based multilateral system centred on a reformed UN.

Guterres cited prolonged wars, attacks on civilians, human rights abuses, worsening inequality, climate change and the rapid risks posed by artificial intelligence. He condemned the scale of killing and destruction in Gaza, criticised energy companies for profiteering and environmental damage, called Africa’s exclusion from a permanent Security Council seat unacceptable, and urged stronger international regulation of AI and protection for civilians.