Guterres Urges Diplomacy as Conflicts Rage from Gaza to Ukraine
UNITED NATIONS — Amid deepening global unrest, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning Tuesday: the world is failing to uphold international law, and the cost in human lives is soaring, reported by APP.
Speaking at a high-level Security Council debate convened by Pakistan, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, Guterres called for urgent global recommitment to diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution.
“Peace is a choice,” he told foreign ministers. “And the world expects this Council to help countries make that choice.”
From Gaza to Ukraine, Myanmar to Sudan, Guterres painted a bleak picture of a planet gripped by war, where mediation tools laid out in the U.N. Charter are being underused and international norms are repeatedly ignored.
“The horror in Gaza — a scale of destruction and death without parallel in recent memory — is just one example,” he said, citing rising starvation risks, denied humanitarian access, and strikes on U.N. facilities despite their coordinates being shared with the warring parties.
“These premises are inviolable and must be protected under international humanitarian law — without exception,” he stressed.
Guterres referenced Article 2.3 and Chapter VI of the U.N. Charter, which call on member states to settle disputes by peaceful means — through negotiation, arbitration, mediation, or regional cooperation. He praised Pakistan for tabling a resolution reinforcing these principles, which was adopted unanimously.
Tuesday’s session, chaired by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, was a signature event of Pakistan’s presidency. It focused on evaluating dispute-settlement mechanisms, enhancing cooperation with regional bodies, and aligning global efforts with the U.N.’s Pact for the Future, which prioritizes preventive diplomacy.
Despite worsening global tensions, Guterres reminded the Council that diplomacy prevailed even during the Cold War — enabling peacekeeping, humanitarian corridors, and the avoidance of global war.
He urged permanent Security Council members to bridge their differences and support reforms to make the Council more inclusive, accountable, and reflective of today’s geopolitical landscape.
“As we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we must renew our commitment to the multilateral spirit of peace through diplomacy,” Guterres said. “The people of the world need and deserve nothing less.”
