Antonio Guterres delivers final speech as UN Secretary-General

Antonio Guterres delivered his final opening speech as United Nations Secretary-General at the 81st General Assembly in New York. His term will end on January 1 after two mandates.

Guterres described global issues such as war, inequality, the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence as interconnected chapters in a single story of shifting power. He noted that power is moving from states and governments toward large corporations, individuals, and machines, while international institutions still reflect the balances of eighty years ago.

Addressing peace and security, Guterres urged leaders to use the high-level week to stop fighting, reopen dialogue, and allow aid to pass. He criticized the October 7 Hamas attack and described the Israeli offensive in Gaza as having a scale of death and destruction unlike anything he has seen during his time at the UN. He identified peace, inequality, climate, and artificial intelligence as the four major challenges of the 21st century.