Information
UN Secretary-General António Guterres argued that global problems cannot be solved by a single dominant power or by dividing the world into rival blocs led by the United States and China. Instead, he emphasized the need for a multipolar world in which many countries share responsibility for maintaining peace, development, and shared values. Speaking at his annual press conference, Guterres said that lasting stability requires cooperation rather than competition between major powers, and that no single country should be “calling the shots” on global issues.
He stressed that the UN Security Council remains the only body with legal authority to make binding decisions on international peace and security, indirectly responding to recent U.S. proposals to create alternative mechanisms. Guterres also renewed his call for reforming the Council, arguing that resistance to change has weakened the UN’s effectiveness. Reflecting on major global crises during his tenure as he enters his final year in office, he also urged member states to support the election of a woman as the next Secretary-General, noting that the position has never been held by a woman in the UN’s history.
Source: dpa, Reuters
So What
The United Nations is seen as having limited influence in the current geopolitical climate, as major powers often prioritize their own interests over collective decisions. While countries like those in the EU, UK, and Canada may cooperate outside the UN to navigate the rivalry between the US and China, the organization’s weak enforcement mechanisms make it easier for powerful states to ignore its rulings. Consequently, when UN decisions threaten their competitive positions, particularly for the US and China, compliance is unlikely, reinforcing the perception of the UN’s diminishing role in managing major power competition.
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