State of world getting worse as UN Security Council paralysed: Guterres
News Source
•Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:46:36 +0000
📰 What Happened
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the state of the world “is getting worse”. In a final interview with Al Jazeera, he warned that the Security Council is paralysed by splits between big powers.
He said the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are hurting food and energy supplies for everyone. Poor countries are hit hardest.
Guterres said the world now sits in “an environment of impunity”, where middle-sized powers think they can do anything and nothing will happen to them.
🔍 The Backstory
Guterres has led the UN since January 2017. His term ends on December 31, 2026, and his successor has not been chosen yet.
He wants the Security Council reformed, saying it “still essentially represents the world of World War II”. The council has 15 members, but five of them hold veto power: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
That veto has often blocked action. A new secretary-general needs at least nine votes and no veto from those five. Candidates include Rafael Grossi of the IAEA and former Senegalese president Macky Sall.
🎯 Why It Matters
With wars multiplying, a blocked Security Council means the UN often cannot act. The choice of the next UN chief will shape whether that can change.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the state of the world “is getting worse”. In a final interview with Al Jazeera, he warned that the Security Council is paralysed by splits between big powers.
He said the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are hurting food and energy supplies for everyone. Poor countries are hit hardest.
Guterres said the world now sits in “an environment of impunity”, where middle-sized powers think they can do anything and nothing will happen to them.
Guterres has led the UN since January 2017. His term ends on December 31, 2026, and his successor has not been chosen yet.
He wants the Security Council reformed, saying it “still essentially represents the world of World War II”. The council has 15 members, but five of them hold veto power: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
That veto has often blocked action. A new secretary-general needs at least nine votes and no veto from those five. Candidates include Rafael Grossi of the IAEA and former Senegalese president Macky Sall.
With wars multiplying, a blocked Security Council means the UN often cannot act. The choice of the next UN chief will shape whether that can change.