UN Secretary‑General Guterres warns world faces highest number of conflicts since 1945

U.N. Secretary‑General António Guterres told the Security Council that the world is experiencing the greatest number of armed conflicts since the organization was founded in 1945. He said violence is rising in magnitude and complexity, citing wars in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and other hotspots, and warned that military spending has reached record levels while humanitarian aid is being cut.

Speaking during an open debate organized by China, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, Guterres urged all members to avoid further escalation in the Russia‑Ukraine war and condemned repeated cease‑fire violations in Gaza. He described negotiations between the United States and Iran over the Middle‑East conflict as “unpredictable.” The Secretary‑General also highlighted the accelerating arms race driven by new technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons, and called for stronger representation of Africa on the Security Council. He stressed the need for greater investment in conflict prevention, negotiation and mediation to protect the principles of the UN Charter and human rights worldwide.