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Amid ‘clear’ threat of nuclear war, Guterres tells Security Council multilateral off-ramp is essential

United Nations, 19 Feb 25

Strengthening international cooperation and delivering on a UN pact that calls for reforming global governance, among other measures, was the focus of debate in the Security Council on Tuesday. 

The ministerial-level meeting was convened by China, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, as the UN prepares to mark its 80^th anniversary later this year.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the debate emphasizing that “global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever” as the climate crisis rages and inequalities and poverty increase.

Peace remains illusive

“As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond,” he said.  

“Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges. We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.  The prospect of nuclear war remains – outrageously – a clear and present danger.”

Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are also a challenge as their “limitless promise…is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.” 

Security Council reform

“The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform,” said Mr. Guterres.

The Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities, while countries also must continue to improve its working methods to make the body more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable. 

He recalled that these issues have been under consideration by the UN General Assembly for more than a decade. ……………………………………………………….more https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160246

February 20, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international