UN Chief Guterres Warns of ‘Powerful Forces’ Threatening Global Cooperation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday cautioned against a range of “powerful forces lining up to undermine global cooperation,” speaking in London to mark the 80th anniversary of the first UN General Assembly.
The historic session of the UN General Assembly took place on January 10, 1946, at the Methodist Central Hall in London, before the UN headquarters in New York was built. Representatives from 51 countries had convened there for the inaugural assembly.
In his address, Guterres praised Britain for its pivotal role in founding the UN and continuing to champion international cooperation. He described 2025 as a “profoundly challenging year for international cooperation and the values of the UN.”
“We see powerful forces lining up to undermine global cooperation,” he said, adding with resolve, “Despite these rough seas, we sail ahead.”
The UN chief highlighted ongoing achievements in international collaboration, citing the recent treaty on marine biological diversity. The treaty provides the first legal framework for conserving and sustainably using the two-thirds of the world’s oceans that lie beyond national jurisdiction.
“These quiet victories of international cooperation — the wars prevented, the famine averted, the vital treaties secured — do not always make the headlines. Yet they are real. And they matter,” Guterres said.
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