Guterres, in final UN address, calls for interdependence over fragmentation

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his final address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, as his second five-year term draws to a close on December 31. He warned that the world's "fault lines" are widening — pointing to ongoing wars, rising global temperatures and the rapid, largely unregulated advance of artificial intelligence — and called for a world built on interdependence, sustained by dense economic, political, social and technological ties, rather than fragmentation and mistrust.

Guterres also pushed back against the notion that might makes right, telling major powers that recent years have shown military strength alone cannot secure peace. About an hour later, US President Donald Trump offered a contrasting message, saying he had used strength to make America the world's most powerful country, criticizing the UN for what he called pursuing a far-left globalist agenda, and taking aim at bodies such as the International Criminal Court.

A difficult year for the UN

This year's gathering unfolds against the backdrop of wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, DR Congo and Myanmar, alongside growing inequality and economic strain from disrupted shipping and supply chains. The future of the UN itself is also on the agenda, with member states having agreed to a reform package addressing bodies like the Security Council, whose structure still reflects the victors of World War II rather than today's global powers.

Several major leaders are skipping this year's session. China's Xi Jinping is sending a vice president instead of attending himself, while Russia's Vladimir Putin and India's Narendra Modi are also absent. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the assembly by video for a second consecutive year after the US again denied him a visa.

Guterres closed by vowing to keep championing the belief that peace is possible even after leaving office, receiving a sustained standing ovation. Later in the week, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to address the assembly.