UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 2026 Priorities: Multilateralism on 'Deathwatch'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned world leaders on Jan 15, 2026, that multilateralism is on 'deathwatch' amid massive US budget cuts and rising global conflicts.
Cooperation is dying, and conflict is deepening. UN chief Antonio Guterres delivered a blistering farewell address on January 15, 2026, accusing world leaders of abandoning international law in favor of self-defeating geopolitical divides.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 2026 Priorities and the Funding Crisis
Addressing the UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York, Guterres lashed out at what he termed 'wholesale cuts' in development and humanitarian aid. He warned that the foundations of global cooperation are shaking as major powers pull back from their international commitments.
At a time when we need international cooperation the most, we seem to be the least inclined to use it and invest in it. Some seek to put international cooperation on deathwatch.
Impact of 'America First' Policies on Global Aid
While Guterres didn't name specific countries, his remarks clearly targeted the United States under President Donald Trump. According to news agencies, the US announced a drastic reduction in its UN humanitarian budget, plummeting from a peak of $17bn to just $2bn for the upcoming cycle. The effective dismantling of USAID has sent a shockwave through the international community, with the administration telling UN agencies to 'adapt, shrink or die.'
The Security Council remains paralyzed by tensions between the US, Russia, and China. Guterres emphasized the organization's commitment to peace in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, though critics argue the UN's effectiveness in conflict prevention has reached a historic low due to this systemic deadlock.
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