In a stark and urgent address, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned the world’s leaders on Tuesday that the planet is teetering on the edge of catastrophe, as unchecked impunity, deepening inequalities, and growing uncertainty push modern civilization towards “a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.”
“We can’t go on like this,” Guterres declared in a sobering state-of-the-world speech, kicking off the high-level meeting of the U.N.’s 193 member nations. His alarming message underscored a growing number of calls he has made in recent years, warning that global challenges are becoming intolerable and unsustainable.
Guterres highlighted the unprecedented transformations the world is undergoing, facing “geopolitical divisions, escalating wars, and the existential threat of climate change,” calling it “an era of epic transformation.” Conflicts raging across Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond have become seemingly intractable, with no clear end in sight, he told the gathered presidents, prime ministers, and ministers in the General Assembly hall.
“We are edging towards the unimaginable,” he warned, stressing that a global conflict could erupt if current trends continue unchecked. Yet, Guterres stopped short of declaring the situation hopeless. “The challenges we face are solvable,” he said, calling for urgent and collective action.
Leaders Confront an Uneasy World Order
The gathering of world leaders opened in the midst of mounting global divisions and intensifying wars. The conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, along with escalating tensions in the Middle East, have darkened the atmosphere of the summit. Guterres described a “creeping impunity” among global leaders and institutions, noting that such trends have only exacerbated the world’s problems.
“I cannot recall a time of greater peril than this,” echoed King Abdullah II of Jordan, addressing the assembly and reinforcing the Secretary-General’s warnings.
Guterres specifically called attention to the worsening situation in Gaza, labeling it “a nonstop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it.” He noted that rising air attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border have brought Lebanon “to the brink,” while the war in Ukraine, sparked by Russia’s invasion in 2022, shows no signs of resolution. In Sudan, he described a “brutal power struggle” that has unleashed widespread violence, including rape, sexual assaults, and famine, creating a spiraling humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. chief further pointed to the widespread suffering caused by violence in Myanmar, Congo, Haiti, Yemen, and across the Sahel region in Africa, where terrorism is on the rise.
A Blueprint for Change
Despite the dire warnings, Guterres emphasized that hope remains. He referred to the recently concluded Summit of the Future, which saw world nations adopt a historic “Pact for the Future.” This 42-page blueprint is intended to address pressing global issues—from tackling climate change and poverty to regulating artificial intelligence and reforming global institutions, including the U.N. itself.
“The Summit of the Future was a first step,” Guterres said, but he acknowledged that “we have a long way to go.”
As the nearly week-long U.N. gathering continues, world leaders will be expected to respond to Guterres’ call for global cooperation, at a time when the future of international diplomacy and peace feels increasingly uncertain.
