UN Chief Urges De-escalation, Warns of AI Risks

TDT | Manama

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António Guterres calls for ceasefires, stronger international cooperation and safeguards as world leaders prepare for the UN General Assembly.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East, an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and stronger international safeguards for artificial intelligence as world leaders prepare for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Speaking at a press conference in New York, Guterres said the world faces deep uncertainty, shifting power and growing pressure on international institutions.

He urged world leaders to uphold the UN Charter, defend international law, protect human rights, invest in sustainable development and push for peace.

On the Middle East, Guterres said de-escalation must be the top priority and called on all parties to stop actions harming civilians and ensure safe and unrestricted humanitarian operations.

He also called for navigational rights around the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to be fully restored in accordance with international law.

“The only path forward is de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.

Guterres called for the full implementation of the Gaza peace plan and unrestricted humanitarian aid, while urging an end to what he described as the “creeping annexation” of the West Bank. He said there would be no lasting Middle East peace without a two-state solution.

On Ukraine, the UN chief called for an immediate ceasefire as the first step towards a just and lasting peace. He also warned that restrictions affecting the Black Sea were creating serious problems for food, fertilizer and energy supplies.

Guterres described Sudan’s humanitarian crisis as devastating and said the conflict was being fuelled by external weapons supplies. He said countries providing weapons to parties in the conflict should face accountability when those weapons are used extensively against civilians.

A significant part of his remarks focused on artificial intelligence. Guterres said AI offered major benefits but warned that development was advancing faster than understanding of its risks.

He called for governments to protect citizens from AI-related threats and urged countries with advanced AI capabilities to establish mechanisms for information exchange and common safeguards.

“We need guardrails to build trust,” he said, calling for AI to remain safe, transparent and accountable, with human dignity at the centre.

Guterres also warned that geopolitical competition could trigger a race to develop AI without adequate safety measures. He said governments, technology companies, scientists and civil society should all be involved in future international efforts on AI governance.

The Secretary-General renewed his call for reform of the UN Security Council, saying its composition reflects global power relations from decades ago and contributes to paralysis during major crises. He also identified reform of the Bretton Woods institutions as essential.

On climate change, Guterres warned that the world was facing increasingly severe consequences and said countries must drastically reduce emissions. He urged governments to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, citing both economic and energy-security reasons.

As he prepares for his final high-level week after 10 years as Secretary-General, Guterres said his main lesson was the need to reform multilateral institutions to reflect an increasingly multipolar world.

Asked what advice he would give his successor, he said: “Be yourself and be independent, and act according to your conscience.”

Guterres said he did not yet know what his professional future would hold after leaving office but confirmed that he would live in Portugal.