Guterres says world is getting worse as UN Security Council remains paralysed

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the state of the world is getting worse as wars multiply and become more complex, warning that divisions among major powers have paralysed the Security Council. In an interview on Monday, on the eve of his final address to the UN General Assembly, he said the deadlock is leaving the most vulnerable people in "very dramatic situations". He also questioned whether the UN can still meet today's global crises.

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Guterres said the involvement of "superpowers" and key council members in current conflicts has helped create a crisis marked by continued violations of international law. He argued that this has fostered an environment of impunity, in which mid-sized powers may believe they can act without consequences. He linked the worsening situation to the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, saying both are affecting people far beyond the battlefield.

The UN chief pointed to the impact on food access, fuel prices and global inflation. He said the combination of the war in Ukraine and disruptions to food, fertiliser and energy exports through the Black Sea, together with difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, and attacks on oil installations in parts of the Middle East, is creating a devastating effect on many economies. He added that rising interest rates and fuel prices in developed countries may be manageable, but people in the developing world are facing a desperate situation because of higher energy and food costs and a lack of fertilisers.

His comments come as the UN approaches a leadership transition, with his mandate due to end on 31 December 2026 and a successor not yet named. Guterres has led the organisation since 1 January 2017, after previously serving as Portugal's prime minister and as UN high commissioner for refugees. His remarks also underline a broader debate over the UN's ability to respond to overlapping wars, economic shocks and humanitarian pressures when the Security Council is blocked by geopolitical rivalry.

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The interview highlights the continuing strain on the UN system at a time when conflicts in Europe and the Middle East are feeding into wider economic instability. Guterres said the organisation needs reform if it is to remain relevant and important on the global stage. He did not set out specific changes in the interview, but his comments suggest that the question of institutional effectiveness will remain central as the succession process begins.

What remains unclear is how member states will respond to his warning, or whether the Security Council can overcome the divisions he described. It is also not yet known who will succeed him when his term ends. The next developments to watch are any reaction from UN member states, further remarks in his General Assembly address, and whether the leadership transition prompts renewed calls for reform.

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