United Nations Secretary-General warns of straining multilateral system

At the opening of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the multilateral global order is straining due to geopolitical mistrust, ongoing conflicts, and reductions in aid funding. Guterres identified rebuilding faith in international cooperation as “the defining challenge of our time.”

During the session, Guterres expressed support for the newly elected President of the General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, whose theme is “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” He also acknowledged the leadership of outgoing President Annalena Baerbock.

Discussions at the assembly also highlighted the limitations of the current international development system. While humanitarian assistance is vital for immediate crises such as war and famine, there is a growing call to shift from aid dependency toward sustainable investment. Experts suggest the international community must focus on building local institutions, infrastructure, and markets to ensure economic stability once emergency funding concludes.