UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres defends the Security Council’s unique authority to uphold international law amid global instability.
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has robustly defended the Security Council as the indispensable guardian of global peace.
Speaking on Monday, Guterres warned the world is seeing the rule of law replaced by “the law of the jungle”.
He highlighted “flagrant violations of international law and brazen disregard for the UN Charter” globally.
The charter binds all nations to the same rules, prohibiting the threat or use of force, he stated.
“In an era crowded with initiatives, the United Nations Security Council stands alone in its Charter-mandated authority to act on behalf of all Member States on questions of peace and security,” Guterres told the council.
He emphasised that no other “ad-hoc coalition” can legally require member states to comply or authorise the use of force.
The secretary-general’s defence avoided direct mention of a new “Board of Peace” initiative launched by former US President Donald Trump.
That nascent body, unveiled in Davos last week, is led personally by Trump, who argues the UN has failed.
Major Western allies remain skeptical of the new board, which lacks the UN’s universal membership and veto-wielding structure.
Guterres called on Security Council members to “bear a special responsibility to lead by example”.
He urged the international community to “get back on track” through the established multilateral system.
