Macron uses final UN speech to urge resistance to 'law of the jungle'

French President Emmanuel Macron used his final address to the United Nations General Assembly as France's leader to call on countries to defend international law and the UN system. Speaking in New York on Tuesday, he warned against what he described as a return to the "law of the jungle" and urged governments to stand firm in the face of what he called the abuse of power by empires. He also linked the speech to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, making the remarks one of his most direct interventions on the global stage before leaving office.

Sponsored

Macron called for a moratorium on strikes against civilian and energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the destruction of civilian infrastructure and human rights violations had created what he described as a new era of barbaric acts. He said Moscow and Kyiv should agree to halt attacks on those targets, and also called for a moratorium on attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. The sea route is important for grain exports from both countries, giving the proposal wider economic significance beyond the battlefield.

The French president also criticised the humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying the crisis there damaged the credibility of the international community if it remained inactive. He said that claims of peace had not been matched by humanitarian deliveries, and described the situation as shameful. During the speech, he struck the rostrum as he spoke about the devastation in Gaza, underlining the force of his message while remaining within the formal setting of the annual diplomatic gathering.

The intervention matters because it brought together several of the most sensitive issues on the UN agenda: the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza and the broader question of whether international rules can still constrain major powers. Macron has been a long-standing supporter of Ukraine, and the speech followed a meeting with US President Donald Trump on Monday in which he raised Ukraine's case. His comments also reflected the wider diplomatic atmosphere in New York, where leaders were using the General Assembly to press their positions on war, humanitarian access and global governance.

Sponsored

Macron's remarks also fit into a broader debate over the future of the UN system and the limits of state power in conflicts that have strained international institutions. By calling for a "double moratorium" on strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure, he sought to frame the war in Ukraine in humanitarian terms as well as strategic ones. His appeal on Gaza similarly placed pressure on governments to show that diplomatic language is matched by practical action on aid and civilian protection.

It remains unclear whether either side in the Russia-Ukraine war will respond to the moratorium proposal, or whether the call on Black Sea shipping will gain traction. It is also not clear what immediate effect Macron's criticism of the Gaza situation will have on the diplomatic discussions taking place at the UN. What happens next will depend on whether the speech translates into follow-up talks, public support from other leaders, or concrete steps in the days after the General Assembly session.

#EmmanuelMacron #UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly #internationallaw #Ukrainewar #Gazacrisis