Guterres urges Security Council overhaul amid great-power deadlock and Middle East crises
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a reform of the Security Council, blaming major-power divisions for its paralysis and urging a power shift to match today’s realities.
At a Wednesday briefing, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Security Council is immobilised by deep geopolitical splits and by members that themselves violate international law. He argued that the Council’s composition no longer reflects current global power structures and must be reformed as a top priority. Guterres condemned Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, calling it genocide and ethnic cleansing, and insisted that a two-state solution is the only path to lasting peace.
He also urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, offering the General Assembly as a venue for trilateral negotiations if parties agree. In addition, the Secretary-General highlighted the urgency of a coordinated international approach to curb runaway artificial intelligence, citing recent industry calls for slower development. The remarks tie together security, humanitarian, and technological challenges facing the world today.
Why it matters
Guterres’ plea spotlights the Security Council’s deadlock and links it to pressing conflicts and AI risks, urging global reform.
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