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Ahead of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, Secretary-General António Guterres said the world has entered “an era of deep uncertainty” and urged governments to strengthen international cooperation to address growing global threats.
Speaking to reporters six days before world leaders gather in New York, Guterres identified three “existential threats”: runaway artificial intelligence (AI), the climate crisis and deepening inequalities.
He also reiterated his calls for a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict and a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
While acknowledging the need to reform global institutions, including the UN itself, the Secretary-General stressed that the organisation’s commitments to maintaining peace and protecting human rights remain unchanged.
“Updating our structures can never mean abandoning our principles – it must mean applying those principles with even greater determination,” Guterres said.
Now more than ever, Guterres called on Member States to uphold the UN Charter, defend international law, protect human rights, invest in sustainable development and work for peace around the world.
He highlighted the devastation in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war as areas of particular concern, urging leaders to pursue “de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue” to end the conflicts.
“At this crucial moment in the Middle East, de-escalation must be priority one, priority two and priority three,” the Secretary-General said.
All parties to the conflict in the Middle East must respect navigational rights in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and must not harm civilians, Guterres said.
He also drew attention to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and said Israel’s annexation of the West Bank “must stop”.
More than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Guterres said there is “no end in sight”, calling for an immediate ceasefire as the first step towards a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace”.
The General Assembly is expected to debate both conflicts next week.
Guterres devoted nearly half of his remarks to the rapid advancement of AI and what should be done to manage its risks.
He recognised AI’s “enormous potential” in areas including health, education and climate action, but said the world “cannot afford to ignore concerns” that AI development is advancing faster than humanity’s understanding of its risks.
Comparing AI with other issues of international concern, Guterres said governments must protect their citizens from AI-related risks and stressed that “global cooperation is indispensable”.
As fears mount of an AI arms race between the United States and China, the Secretary-General acknowledged the existence of “geopolitical divides” and said voluntary pauses in AI development would not work if they were isolated or limited to only a few countries.
“The world cannot afford a race to the bottom on AI safety,” he said.
Guterres pointed to the UN-founded Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which he said would inform global discussions by providing the best available evidence on AI’s opportunities and risks.
As world leaders prepare to discuss possible solutions, the Secretary-General called for guardrails that build trust and “make AI safe, transparent and accountable, with human dignity at the centre”.
“International cooperation is more necessary than ever,” he said.