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UN chief urges global cooperation on existential threats in final assembly address

Antonio Guterres warned against superpower polarization as his term concludes without an established successor.

The short version

  • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his final General Assembly address, urging global leaders to cooperate against climate risks, artificial intelligence challenges, and inequality.[ABC News · France 24]
  • Guterres warned superpowers against relying solely on military might to achieve peace, while US President Donald Trump separately emphasized national power in his remarks.[ABC News · France 24]
  • UN member states have backed a broad institutional reform package, but no clear successor to Guterres has emerged as his term ends on December 31.[ABC News · France 24]

Key facts

  • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to cooperate against threats such as the climate crisis, runaway artificial intelligence, and widening inequality.[ABC News · France 24]
  • Guterres stated that military strength alone cannot deliver peace and cautioned major powers against assuming their power is absolute.[ABC News · France 24]
  • US President Donald Trump presented a contrasting perspective on power, asserting that he used strength to position the United States as the most powerful nation.[France 24]
  • Member nations have approved a wide-ranging reform initiative aimed at updating core institutions, including the UN Security Council.[ABC News · France 24]

What remains uncertain

  • A successor to Guterres has not yet emerged from among eight contenders following three Security Council straw polls before his term ends on December 31.[ABC News · France 24]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.