António Guterres warns of changing nature of warfare at UN Security Council

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned the Security Council that the essence of warfare is changing rapidly due to the rise of drones, autonomous lethal weapons, and AI-driven disinformation. He noted a dangerous disconnect between the evolving nature of conflicts and the resources available to address them, citing reduced budgets and diminished military and police contingents for peacekeeping.

Guterres outlined five strategic priorities to modernize UN peacekeeping operations. These include prioritizing peace consolidation by ensuring missions are only deployed when there is a structured ceasefire or agreement, building stronger partnerships with host nations to foster locally-driven peace, and adapting mandates to reflect modern realities.

He also emphasized the need for predictable and adequate funding to equip peacekeepers with essential technologies. Guterres pointed out that many peacekeepers currently lack even basic modern tools, which hinders their ability to fulfill mandates. He stressed that peacekeeping must remain a political tool that supports, rather than replaces, political solutions, and called for increased cooperation with regional organizations.