16 September 2026
Speaking to reporters six days
before world leaders gather in New York, Mr. Guterres
identified “three existential threats”: runaway
artificial intelligence (AI), the climate crisis and
deepening inequalities.
He also reiterated calls for a
two-State solution in the Middle East and for a ceasefire
between Russia and Ukraine.
While he acknowledged the
need to reform global institutions, including the UN itself,
the Secretary-General stressed that the UN’s promises to
maintain peace and protect human rights remain the
same.
“Updating our structures can never mean
abandoning our principles – it must mean applying those
principles with even greater determination,” Mr. Guterres
said.
Need for peace
Now more than ever, Mr.
Guterres called for Member States to uphold the UN
Charter, defend international law, protect human rights,
invest in sustainable development and push for peace
everywhere.
He highlighted the decimation of Gaza and
the Russia-Ukraine war as areas of particular concern,
urging leaders to work towards “de-escalation, diplomacy
and dialogue” to end these conflicts.
“At this
crucial moment in the Middle East, de-escalation must be
priority one, priority two and priority three,” the
Secretary-General said.
All parties to the conflict in
the Middle East must respect navigational rights in the
Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Straits and must not harm
civilians, Mr. Guterres said.
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He also called attention
to the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and said
Israel’s annexation of the West Bank “must
stop.”
More than four years after Russia’s
full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Guterres said there is
“no end in sight,” calling for an immediate ceasefire as
the first step towards a “just, lasting and comprehensive
peace.”
The General Assembly is expected to debate
both conflicts next week.
Guardrails on AI
development
The Secretary-General dedicated nearly
half his remarks to what should be done about the rapid
advancement of AI technology.
He recognised AI’s
“enormous potential” on issues surrounding health,
education and climate, but added that the world “cannot
afford to ignore concerns” that AI development is
progressing faster than human understanding of its
risks.
Comparing AI to other issues of international
concern Mr. Guterres said governments must protect their
citizens from AI’s risks and that “global cooperation is
indispensable.”
As fears mount of an AI arms race
between the US and China, the Secretary-General acknowledged
“geopolitical divides” and said voluntary pauses on AI
development will not work if they are isolated – limited
to only a few countries.
“The world cannot afford a
race to the bottom on AI safety,” he said.
Mr.
Guterres pointed to the UN-founded Independent International
Scientific Panel on AI, which he said will inform global
discussions by providing the best available evidence on
AI’s opportunities and risks.
As world leaders
prepare to discuss solutions, the Secretary-General called
for guardrails that build trust and “make AI safe,
transparent and accountable, with human dignity at the
centre.”
“International cooperation is more
necessary than ever,” he
said.
