Antonio Guterres The United Nations Secretary-General said in an interview that the United States is pursuing policies without regard for international law, firmly believing that its power and influence outweigh multilateral mechanisms and global norms. These remarks come amid international tensions, including US actions toward Venezuela and President Donald Trump's threat to annex Greenland.
Antonio Guterres gave a special interview to BBC Radio 4's Today program, stating that the US government holds a deeply rooted belief that "multilateral solutions are meaningless," and that the US prioritizes its own power and influence over international legal norms to achieve its objectives.
This criticism arises amid global tensions, including the US invasion of Venezuela and detention of President Nicolás Maduro, as well as repeated threats by Donald Trump to annex Greenland. Guterres noted that the UN's fundamental principle of equal sovereignty among member states is under severe threat.
President Donald Trump previously delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly in September, questioning the UN's existence. He claimed to have single-handedly ended "seven endless wars" without UN assistance and concluded, "I finally realized the UN was not made for us."
Guterres candidly acknowledged the UN's difficulties in enforcing its charter and international law among member states. In reality, the UN lacks "leverage" compared to major powers and questioned whether such power is used for sustainable solutions or merely short-term fixes.
He highlighted key issues such as the Gaza crisis, where the UN was blocked from delivering aid, and Israel's support for outsourcing UN functions, which led to tragic deaths of Palestinians waiting for food assistance.
Regarding the inefficiency of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Guterres stated that the UNSC no longer represents the current world. The veto power used by the five permanent members—US, UK, France, Russia, and China—is applied for self-interest, paralyzing efforts to resolve wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
He also called for restructuring permanent membership, criticizing that three European countries hold permanent seats, which does not reflect global voices, and urged limiting veto use to reduce the "unacceptable deadlock."
The UN Secretary-General concluded that the problem-solving structure created in 1945 cannot address the challenges of 2026. The world is filled with turmoil, shameless violations of international law, and uncertainty.
"Most people may hesitate to confront those in power, but the truth is, if we do not confront power, we will never build a better world," Guterres said, ending his remarks as his term approaches its conclusion later this year.
/sourceBBC