As Peace Grows More Distant, the Threat of Terrorism Expands, Highlighting the Need for Unified Action
Below are the remarks of UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security, focusing on multilateralism, reform, and enhancing global governance, delivered in New York today:
I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this critical discussion.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Established in the aftermath of the Second World War, our organization was founded on a global resolve to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
It also represented a commitment to a new era of international collaboration grounded in international law and our founding Charter. To help nations move beyond conflict and build enduring peace. To address poverty, hunger, and disease. To support countries in their development efforts. To provide humanitarian assistance during conflicts and disasters. To promote justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights. And to work through this Council to foster peace via dialogue, debate, diplomacy, and consensus-building.
Eight decades later, we can trace a direct link between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war. Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the unparalleled platform for advancing peace, sustainable development, and human rights. But eight decades is a long time. And because we believe in the UN’s unique value and purpose, we must continually strive to improve the institution and our methods.
We have the framework for international cooperation — but it needs modernization. Modernization in representation to reflect today’s realities. Modernization in support for developing countries to address historical injustices. Modernization to ensure adherence to the principles and norms that underpin multilateralism in justice and fairness. And modernization of our peace operations.
Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever. The climate crisis is intensifying, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise. As this Council is well aware, peace is becoming increasingly elusive — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and beyond.
Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent threats. We see a shadow of impunity spreading. The risk of nuclear conflict remains — shockingly — a present danger. And the boundless promise of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence comes with immense risks to human thought, identity, and control.
These global challenges demand collective solutions.
The Pact for the Future adopted in September aims to strengthen global governance for the 21st century and rebuild trust — in multilateralism, the United Nations, and this Council. At its core, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — in all its dimensions.
It offers concrete solutions to reinforce the mechanisms of peace, drawing from proposals in the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. The Pact seeks to enhance coordination with regional organizations and ensure full participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in peace processes. It calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for national peacebuilding and prevention strategies.
The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in over a decade… New strategies to eliminate chemical and biological weapons… And renewed efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.
It calls on Member States to uphold their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of States.
It reaffirms a steadfast commitment to abide by international law and prioritize peaceful dispute resolution through dialogue. It recognizes the UN’s role in preventive diplomacy. It underscores the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social, and cultural. It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.
And it specifically urges this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.
But the Pact goes further for peace. It acknowledges the need to address the root causes of conflict and tensions. Sustainable peace requires sustainable development. The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, such as moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.
It includes a renewed commitment to reform the global financial system to better and more fairly represent developing countries’ needs. And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body, bringing developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.
The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect today’s world, not that of 80 years ago, and sets out key principles to guide this long-overdue reform. This Council should be expanded and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities. And we must continue to improve this Council’s working methods to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic, and accountable.
These issues have been under consideration by the General Assembly for over a decade. Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future and work towards greater consensus among regional groups and Member States — including the permanent members of this Council — to advance intergovernmental negotiations.
Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions blocking effective action for peace. The world looks to you to act meaningfully to end conflicts and alleviate the suffering these wars impose on innocent people.
Council Members have demonstrated that finding common ground is possible. From deploying peacekeeping missions, to passing life-saving resolutions on humanitarian aid, to historic acknowledgements of the security challenges faced by women and young people, to the landmark resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions.
Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, this Council’s collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue maintained a functioning, albeit imperfect, system of collective security. I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences, and focus on building the consensus needed to deliver the peace all people deserve.
Multilateral cooperation is the lifeblood of the United Nations. Guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, multilateralism can become an even more powerful tool for peace. But multilateralism is only as strong as each country’s commitment to it.
As we face the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms. Let’s make them fit for purpose, fit for people, and fit for peace.
