The United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, has warned that 'powerful forces' are lining up to undermine global cooperation, in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the UN’s first major meeting in London. Speaking at Methodist Central Hall, where delegates from 51 nations gathered for the inaugural general assembly in 1946, Guterres made an impassioned plea for multilateralism and international law to prevail amid deepening global uncertainty.
Guterres highlighted the escalation in military spending, noting that global military expenditure reached $2.7 trillion last year – over 200 times the UK’s current aid budget. He contrasted this with the neglect of climate goals, saying that as the planet broke heat records, fossil fuel profits continued to surge. The secretary general also warned of the dangers posed by cyberspace, where algorithms reward falsehoods and fuel hatred, providing authoritarians with powerful tools of control.
The speech comes as the UN faces severe funding difficulties, largely driven by decisions of US President Donald Trump. The US has allocated just $2 billion to UN humanitarian assistance, a fraction of its previous contributions, and warned the organisation must 'adapt, shrink or die'. Trump also announced the US withdrawal from multiple UN agencies and the Paris climate agreement. Experts warn the funding cuts will lead to a less effective international aid system and could cripple UN peacekeeping operations.
Despite these challenges, Guterres insisted that reforms will ensure the UN becomes 'more agile, more coordinated and more responsive'. He is due to step down at the end of 2026.
