Guterres Warns Global Cooperation Under Threat at UN 80

Published: 17 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

United Nations secretary general António Guterres has issued one of the starkest warnings of his tenure, cautioning that “powerful forces” are actively working to undermine global cooperation at a moment when humanity faces interconnected crises of unprecedented scale. Speaking in London to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations’ first major meeting, Guterres delivered an impassioned defence of multilateralism and international law, arguing that the very principles on which the UN was founded are now under sustained assault.

The speech, delivered at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, carried deep historical resonance. It was in the same hall in January 1946 that delegates from 51 countries gathered for the inaugural session of the UN general assembly, emerging from the devastation of the second world war with a shared determination to prevent future global conflict. Eight decades later, Guterres used the symbolic setting to underline how far the world has drifted from that founding spirit, even as the need for collective action has become more urgent than ever.

Guterres reminded his audience that the general assembly’s first-ever resolution focused on disarmament and the elimination of atomic weapons, reflecting the trauma of a world that had witnessed the destructive power of nuclear warfare. Today, he warned, the threats confronting humanity are broader, more complex and in some cases unimaginable to those early delegates. Climate breakdown, unchecked technological disruption and a renewed global arms race are converging in ways that place enormous strain on international cooperation.

Without naming specific countries, the secretary general pointed to rising militarisation as a clear symptom of this dangerous trajectory. He noted that global military spending reached an estimated $2.7 trillion last year, a figure he contrasted sharply with spending on development and humanitarian assistance. He described the sum as more than 200 times the UK’s current aid budget and equivalent to over 70% of Britain’s entire economy, a comparison intended to highlight what he sees as distorted global priorities.

This massive investment in weaponry, Guterres argued, is unfolding alongside a wilful neglect of the climate emergency. He warned that as the planet continues to break heat records, the industries driving climate change are still being rewarded. Fossil fuel profits, he said, have surged even as scientific warnings grow more urgent and the window for meaningful action narrows. The result, he suggested, is a world sleepwalking towards environmental catastrophe while pouring resources into tools of destruction.

Guterres also devoted significant attention to the growing role of digital technology in shaping politics and society. He warned that cyberspace has become a battleground where algorithms often reward falsehoods, amplify hatred and weaken democratic institutions. In his view, the same technologies that hold the promise of global connection and progress are being exploited by authoritarian forces to entrench control and suppress dissent, further eroding trust between nations and within societies.

The secretary general’s remarks come at a time of acute financial stress for the United Nations itself. The organisation is grappling with chronic funding shortages, largely driven by decisions taken by the United States under President Donald Trump. Washington recently announced that it would allocate just $2 billion to UN humanitarian assistance, a dramatic reduction from its previous role as the organisation’s largest donor. The funding announcement was accompanied by blunt language from the US state department, which warned the UN that it must “adapt, shrink or die”.

The implications of this funding cut are far-reaching. Experts warn that a reduced US contribution will inevitably lead to a smaller and less effective international aid system, with vulnerable populations bearing the brunt. The UN has already acknowledged that existing shortfalls threaten to cripple its global peacekeeping operations, undermining efforts to stabilise conflict zones and protect civilians.

The financial pressure has been compounded by the Trump administration’s subsequent decision to withdraw the US from multiple UN agencies, as well as from a key international climate treaty. Together, these moves have raised serious questions about the future of global governance at a time when cooperation is essential to address shared challenges such as climate change, pandemics, mass displacement and technological disruption.

Despite the bleak assessment, Guterres struck a note of cautious determination. He acknowledged the need for reform within the UN and insisted that the organisation must evolve to remain effective in a rapidly changing world. He pledged that ongoing reforms would make the United Nations more agile, more coordinated and more responsive to the needs of the people it serves. In his view, adaptation does not mean abandoning multilateralism, but rather strengthening it so that it can withstand political pressure and changing global dynamics.

The speech also carried a personal dimension, as Guterres approaches the end of his term as secretary general in 2026. At 76, he is increasingly reflective about the legacy of the institution he leads and the path the world is taking. His warning about “powerful forces” undermining cooperation can be read not only as a critique of specific policies, but as a broader appeal to political leaders and citizens alike to recognise what is at stake.

Observers note that the London address may be remembered as one of the defining speeches of Guterres’ leadership. By invoking the ideals of 1946 while confronting the realities of 2026, he sought to bridge past and present, reminding the world why the UN was created and why its mission remains vital. Whether that message will translate into renewed political will among member states remains uncertain.

What is clear, however, is that the secretary general believes the current moment represents a crossroads. In his view, the erosion of trust, the retreat from cooperation and the prioritisation of narrow national interests over collective wellbeing threaten to unravel decades of progress. The alternative, he argued, is a recommitment to international law, shared responsibility and the belief that global problems require global solutions.

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, Guterres’ warning serves as both a diagnosis and a call to action. The forces undermining cooperation, he suggested, are powerful but not inevitable. Whether the international community chooses confrontation over collaboration, or fragmentation over unity, will shape not only the future of the UN but the fate of the planet itself.