United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has raised the alarm about the worsening state of the globe, pointing to a “dramatic geopolitical divide” that is paralyzing the UN Security Council and severely impacting vulnerable populations.
Speaking to Al Jazeera on Monday, the first day of the UN General Assembly in New York, Guterres stated that the world is facing multiplying and complex conflicts, notably the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Israel war on Iran. According to the UN chief, the continued violation of international law by superpowers on the Security Council has fostered an “environment of impunity” where midsize powers feel emboldened to act without facing consequences.
Guterres highlighted the severe economic and humanitarian fallout from these compounding crises. He noted that the disruptions to the export of food, fertilizer, and energy in regions such as the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Red Sea—coupled with attacks on Middle East oil installations—are having a devastating impact worldwide. While developed nations can manage rising fuel prices and interest rates, developing countries are left in a “desperate situation” facing surging energy costs and fertilizer shortages.
As his term ends on December 31, 2026, Guterres asserted that his successor will inherit an organization in dire need of structural reform, noting that the Security Council “still essentially represents the world of World War II.” Potential candidates vying to succeed him include Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Ecuadorian diplomat Maria Fernanda Espinosa. To be recommended, a candidate must secure nine votes from the 15-member council and avoid a veto from any of its five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.