United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a dire warning to world leaders on Tuesday, stating that unchecked impunity, rising inequality, and growing uncertainty are driving the world toward a "powder keg" of instability. Speaking at the opening of the annual high-level UN General Assembly, Guterres stressed that the global situation has become unsustainable, with wars raging in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, and other regions, as geopolitical divisions deepen and the planet faces unprecedented environmental challenges.
"We can’t go on like this,” Guterres declared, as he painted a grim picture of a world on the brink. He pointed to the escalating conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan as signs of a global order unraveling. Despite this, he stopped short of saying all hope was lost, emphasizing that the world’s current challenges remain solvable if swift and cooperative action is taken.
Other global leaders echoed his concerns. Jordan's King Abdullah II said he had never witnessed a time of greater peril, while Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the violence in Gaza and Lebanon, urging that resources spent on war could be better used to fight hunger and address climate change. U.S. President Joe Biden urged world leaders to resist the forces pulling nations apart, advocating for global unity.
At a preceding summit, world leaders adopted a "Pact for the Future," aimed at addressing issues such as climate change, poverty, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. The pact also called for the reform of international institutions to better meet 21st-century challenges.
Guterres identified three key drivers of global instability: unmanaged risks, inequality that fuels injustice, and impunity that undermines international law. He criticized governments and actors who believe they can operate without accountability, suggesting that their actions threaten the foundational principles of the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon “cannot go unanswered,” intensifying concerns of wider regional conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for global "action" to force Russia into peace, dismissing the possibility of talks with Moscow, while Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the assembly of giving Ukraine an unfair platform to criticize Russia.
As the weeklong gathering continues, key speeches from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to address the escalating conflict in Gaza. With the world facing overlapping crises, the urgent calls for peace and reform highlight the high stakes at this year's UN General Assembly.