UN chief warns major power divisions paralyse Security Council

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the global situation is deteriorating as wars spread, with deep divisions among major powers leaving the Security Council unable to respond effectively to growing crises. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Monday, Guterres said the involvement of major powers and permanent Security Council members in conflicts has made it harder for the council to act, creating an "environment of impunity" where midsize powers believe they can act without consequences. He cited the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Israel war on Iran as conflicts disrupting food, fertiliser, and energy supplies, devastating economies worldwide. Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026, said his successor will inherit a UN facing multiple conflicts and a growing gap between global challenges and the organisation's ability to respond, arguing reforms are necessary for the UN to remain effective in a world divided by geopolitical rivalries.