Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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January 29, 2026 UN
"The law of force defeats the force of law." This is how UN Secretary-General António Guterres characterized the current state of international relations while speaking to journalists in New York. He outlined the Organization's priorities for 2026, his final term as UN chief.
A period of chaos and uncertainty
According to Guterres, 2026 is already shaping up to be a period of chaos and uncertainty. The Secretary-General emphasized that the world is living in a situation where actions—especially reckless ones—cause dangerous reactions. This is exacerbated by geopolitical divisions and exacerbated by impunity, which undermines international stability.
He noted that international law is being violated, multilateral cooperation institutions are under attack, and impunity is thriving in the world.
“Impunity has become a driving force in today’s conflicts, fueling escalation, deepening mistrust and opening the door to powerful destructive forces,” Guterres said.
The world is changing rapidly
He paid particular attention to the humanitarian situation worldwide. The Secretary-General said cuts to humanitarian aid are triggering a "chain reaction" of despair, population displacement, and death.
At the same time, inequality is deepening globally, undermining societies. The climate crisis remains one of the most serious challenges of our time. And the lack of restrictions on the development of new technologies is leading to instability.
At the same time, mechanisms for solving global problems are outdated, Guterres noted, and the world is changing rapidly: the economic influence of developing countries is growing, and South-South trade is outpacing traditional North-North flows.
The need to develop multilateral institutions
The Secretary-General stated that global problems cannot be resolved by a single power or two competing powers attempting to divide the world into spheres of influence. He urged accelerated and targeted development of multipolarity based on partnership.
"However, multipolarity alone does not guarantee stability or peace. Europe was multipolar before the First World War. But the lack of effective multilateral institutions led to confrontation and war," Guterres said.
“For a multipolar world to ensure balance, prosperity and peace, we need strong multilateral institutions whose legitimacy is based on shared responsibility and common values,” he added.
UN Priorities
The Secretary-General said the Organization would continue to strive for a just and lasting peace.
One of the main priorities of his work in the final year will be the reform of the Security Council.
“We are making every effort to reform and strengthen the Security Council, the only body with the Charter-enshrined authority to act on behalf of all countries on matters of peace and security,” Guterres said.
He stressed that there can be no peace and stability without development and the UN will continue to do everything possible to achieve this. Sustainable Development Goals.
Combating climate change and creating a global governance system for artificial intelligence will also be key areas of work in 2026. He recalled that within the UN, created International Scientific Group on Artificial Intelligence.
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