Guterres Cautions Against Forces Weakening Global Cooperation at UN’s 80th Anniversary

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned that “powerful forces” are aligning to erode global cooperation, urging countries to reaffirm their faith in multilateralism and international law.

He made the remarks while addressing an event in London to mark 80 years since the UN’s first General Assembly session.

Guterres pointed to soaring military expenditure, the worsening climate crisis, and the destabilising impact of misinformation and digital platforms as key global challenges.

His remarks come amid sharp cuts in US funding to the UN, raising concerns about the organisation’s humanitarian and peacekeeping capacities. He nevertheless said ongoing reforms would make the UN more agile and effective.