UN chief stresses adherence to UN charter, peace, unity for 2026

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized three principles that guide the world body's work in 2026: adherence to the UN Charter, peace with justice -- peace between nations and peace with nature, and unity in an age of division.



In remarks to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on priorities for 2026, Guterres said the world today is brimming with conflict, impunity, inequality and unpredictability, marked by self-defeating geopolitical divides, brazen violations of international law, and wholesale cuts in development and humanitarian aid.



"These forces and more are shaking the foundations of global cooperation and testing the resilience of multilateralism itself," he said.



Noting that "some seek to put international cooperation on deathwatch," the UN chief stated, "I can assure you: we will not give up."



Guterres noted that even in this turbulence, the United Nations has succeeded in claiming space for the organization where it was not a given, in areas such as artificial intelligence, financing for development and climate action.