UN Chief Calls for Global AI Governance and End to Wars

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for stronger international cooperation on artificial intelligence, an end to ongoing wars and reforms to global institutions as world leaders gathered in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Guterres made the appeal on September 22, 2026, in what was his final address to the General Assembly as UN secretary-general. His term ends on December 31.

The speech came as governments confronted conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions, climate pressures and rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

Guterres described the international system as facing four major tests involving war and peace, inequality, climate change and technological power.

Four tests facing the international system

Guterres said the world was facing four major tests of power: war and peace, inequality, climate change and artificial intelligence.

The United Nations described his speech as an assessment of the challenges facing the international system, including widening geopolitical divisions and declining trust between countries.

The secretary-general argued that international institutions need to adapt to these changing conditions.

He also warned that military power cannot by itself resolve the conflicts confronting the international community.

The comments came as the General Assembly opened amid wars and diplomatic disputes involving Iran, Gaza and Ukraine.

Guterres calls for international AI governance

Artificial intelligence was a major element of Guterres’ final General Assembly address.

He called for stronger international rules and cooperation around AI, arguing that decisions with serious consequences for human life should remain subject to meaningful human control.

The UN has increasingly treated AI governance as an international issue because the technology crosses national borders and is being incorporated into areas including healthcare, finance, communications, government and defence.

Guterres has previously argued that AI governance should not be determined solely by a small number of governments or technology companies.

His latest appeal comes as countries develop competing regulatory approaches while the United States, China and other technology powers invest heavily in increasingly capable AI systems.

Concerns about AI and military use

The debate extends beyond commercial AI systems.

Governments and international organisations are also examining the use of artificial intelligence in military applications, including systems that could assist with targeting and decision-making.

Guterres has warned about the risks of autonomous weapons and the possibility that machines could make decisions involving life and death without adequate human oversight.

The UN has called for international guardrails around AI while also supporting the responsible development of the technology.

The secretary-general’s position reflects a wider debate over how to balance technological innovation with safety, accountability and human rights.

Wars remain a central concern

Guterres also used the speech to call for an end to wars and greater respect for international law.

His appeal came as the United States and Iran remained engaged in a major military confrontation and as Russia’s war against Ukraine continued.

The Gaza conflict was also among the major issues being discussed by governments attending the General Assembly.

The secretary-general has repeatedly called for negotiated solutions and greater protection of civilians affected by armed conflict.

The UN’s role in these crises remains constrained by disagreements among major powers, including divisions within the Security Council.

Middle East conflict dominates the gathering

The conflict involving Iran was one of the most prominent issues surrounding this year’s General Assembly.

US President Donald Trump defended American military action against Iran in his own address and said Washington remained open to a settlement.

Iranian delegates subsequently walked out during Trump’s remarks about the conflict.

The contrasting positions illustrated the difficulty of achieving a common international response to the war.

Guterres’ call for diplomacy and adherence to international law came against this backdrop of sharply different positions among member states.

Ukraine remains unresolved

The war in Ukraine was another major issue at the General Assembly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Trump in New York and discussed possible measures to reduce attacks against energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to support an energy ceasefire if Russia also stopped attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities.

At the time of the discussion, there was no confirmed new bilateral energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Guterres’ wider appeal for an end to wars therefore came while governments were continuing to explore limited ceasefires and other diplomatic measures.

Climate change is another global test

Climate change was another major element of Guterres’ message.

The secretary-general has consistently called on governments to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and protect communities vulnerable to climate impacts.

He linked climate change to questions of inequality, noting that its effects are often most severe for countries and communities with fewer resources.

The UN has continued to press governments to increase climate action and maintain progress toward international climate commitments.

Climate policy also intersects with energy security, particularly as geopolitical conflicts disrupt oil and gas markets.

Guterres calls for Security Council reform

Guterres again raised the issue of reforming the UN Security Council.

The Council currently has five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The secretary-general has argued that the continued absence of permanent African representation is difficult to justify given the continent’s population and its role in international affairs.

The question of African representation has been discussed for decades, with African governments supporting reforms that would give the continent permanent seats.

However, changing the Security Council’s composition requires broad international agreement and remains politically difficult.

Inequality remains part of the UN agenda

Guterres also identified inequality as one of the major challenges facing the international system.

Economic disparities between and within countries affect access to healthcare, education, technology and development opportunities.

The secretary-general has argued that international institutions need to address these disparities while responding to changes in global economic power.

Developing countries have also continued to call for greater representation in international financial and political institutions.

The issue is particularly significant for Africa, where governments have pushed for reforms to give developing countries a stronger voice in global decision-making.

UN faces questions over its effectiveness

Guterres’ final General Assembly speech also came at a time when the United Nations faces questions about its ability to respond effectively to major international crises.

The organisation depends on member states for funding, political support and implementation of many of its decisions.

Disagreements among permanent members of the Security Council can prevent collective action on conflicts.

Guterres nevertheless argued that the need for multilateral cooperation remains strong.

His position is that global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence and international conflict cannot be effectively managed through purely national responses.

Final General Assembly address

The September 22 speech was Guterres’ final opening address to the General Assembly as secretary-general.

He became secretary-general in January 2017 and will leave the position at the end of 2026.

During his tenure, the UN has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, climate-related disasters and the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence.

His final address brought many of those themes together.

Guterres said his commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and international cooperation would continue after he leaves office.

AI governance could become a lasting issue

The growing prominence of artificial intelligence means the UN’s discussion of AI is likely to continue beyond Guterres’ tenure.

Governments are debating questions involving safety, privacy, employment, misinformation, cybersecurity and military applications.

The technology is developing faster than many existing regulatory systems, creating pressure for governments to establish common standards.

International cooperation could become particularly important where AI systems operate across borders or where decisions made by one country’s technology have consequences elsewhere.

Guterres’ call for stronger global governance therefore forms part of a broader international debate rather than a completed regulatory framework.

What happens next

The 81st General Assembly will continue with discussions involving conflicts, development, climate change, technology and international cooperation.

The practical effect of Guterres’ proposals will depend on whether member states agree to translate them into policies, institutions or international agreements.

AI governance will require cooperation between governments, technology companies, researchers and civil society.

Similarly, ending the wars highlighted in the speech will depend primarily on negotiations involving the parties directly engaged in each conflict.

A broad agenda for the UN

Guterres’ final General Assembly address placed war and peace, inequality, climate change and artificial intelligence at the centre of his assessment of the international system.

He called for greater cooperation, stronger international rules for emerging technologies, renewed diplomatic efforts to end wars and reforms to global institutions.

Those proposals do not themselves create new international rules or end existing conflicts.

Their significance will depend on how governments respond during the remaining General Assembly sessions and in subsequent international negotiations.

As Guterres prepares to leave office at the end of 2026, the issues he highlighted are expected to remain part of the UN’s agenda, particularly the governance of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence and the search for diplomatic solutions to ongoing conflicts.