In a scathing annual address to the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a strong rebuke to world leaders for their lack of cooperation. He accused those in power of pursuing "self-defeating geopolitical divides" and "brazen violations of international law," warning that these actions are eroding global cooperation.
Guterres singled out the US as particularly culpable, citing deep cuts to UN development and humanitarian aid under the Trump administration's "America First" policies. The US had previously contributed up to $17 billion to UN humanitarian assistance, but now allocates only $2 billion. Guterres criticized this drastic reduction, saying it is "shaking the foundations of global cooperation."
The secretary-general made no direct accusations against other countries, choosing instead to focus on the need for collective action and compromise. He emphasized the UN's commitment to promoting peace in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere, as well as its tireless efforts to deliver life-saving aid to those most in need.
However, Guterres was clear about his expectation that humanitarian aid should be allowed to flow unimpeded into Gaza and that no effort should be spared to stop the Russia-Ukraine war. He also urged resumption of talks aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire in Sudan.
Critics have long argued that the UN has struggled to prevent conflicts, and Guterres's speech did little to address these concerns. The organisation's top decision-making body, the Security Council, remains paralysed due to tensions between permanent members like the US, Russia, and China.
Guterres singled out the US as particularly culpable, citing deep cuts to UN development and humanitarian aid under the Trump administration's "America First" policies. The US had previously contributed up to $17 billion to UN humanitarian assistance, but now allocates only $2 billion. Guterres criticized this drastic reduction, saying it is "shaking the foundations of global cooperation."
The secretary-general made no direct accusations against other countries, choosing instead to focus on the need for collective action and compromise. He emphasized the UN's commitment to promoting peace in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere, as well as its tireless efforts to deliver life-saving aid to those most in need.
However, Guterres was clear about his expectation that humanitarian aid should be allowed to flow unimpeded into Gaza and that no effort should be spared to stop the Russia-Ukraine war. He also urged resumption of talks aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire in Sudan.
Critics have long argued that the UN has struggled to prevent conflicts, and Guterres's speech did little to address these concerns. The organisation's top decision-making body, the Security Council, remains paralysed due to tensions between permanent members like the US, Russia, and China.
He's speaking truth to power and it's so needed!!! The US is really taking a hit for slashing UN aid, like what's up with that? 
$2 billion from $17 billion?! That's crazy talk! I'm all about collective action & compromise, let's work together to make the world a better place 
We gotta stop that Russia-Ukraine war ASAP and find a lasting ceasefire in Sudan too 
I mean, have you seen how much stuff is going on right now? It feels like the world is just one big mess 
. Like what's next? Cutting off healthcare for low-income families or something?
. We need collective action and compromise, Guterres said 
.
. We need to see some real change happen. Until then, it's hard to get too excited about anything 
.
i feel like the us is just throwing its weight around right now with all that cut to humanitarian aid 
17 billion was like, a lot 
and now they're at like 2 billion that's a huge drop lol what's up with that? 
but idk how else is gonna get things done if u just cut all that aid out of the picture 
Guterres is right though, the world leaders need to step up their game ASAP 
and Gaza's humanitarian crisis just getting worse 
i think guterres is being super honest lol the us is literally being so extra 
anyway, i guess guterres is right, we need to work together or the world will be in chaos 
let's all just try to get along, okay? 
honestly tho i think guterres is just doing his job but sometimes its hard to take a stand when everyone else is being super unreasonable 
, it's not surprising that things are getting worse. We should be working together as a global community, not tearing each other apart. And what's up with the Security Council being all stuck? Can't they just talk things out or something? 
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I'm totally with SG Antonio Guterres on this one! 
. No effort should be spared to help those in need, whether it's in Gaza or Sudan - we can't just turn our backs on people in crisis 
Like, imagine a big puzzle with 7-8 pieces that need to fit together... 
. It's not like they're impossible to prevent 
!
Guterres is totally on point 
his speech was fire 
gotta keep pushing for peace 
it's all well and good talkin' about peace and cooperation, but somethin's gotta give, you know? 
I think it's awesome that SG Guterres is speaking truth to power, you know? He's not being all negative about things, he's focusing on what we can do better, which is super inspiring! 
The stats on global aid are crazy - in 2020 alone, $45 billion was pledged to humanitarian causes 
But now, under Trump's "America First" policies, the US has cut its contributions from $17 billion to just $2 billion 