United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, delivered a stark assessment of global governance while firmly defending the institution he leads. Amid rising conflicts and geopolitical fractures, he argued that the UN remains indispensable—even as its most powerful body stalls.

Key facts

  • Guterres made the comments during an interview with The Hindu on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit.
  • He demits office at the end of 2026.
  • The Secretary-General praised India's mediation efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • He clarified that a controversial map on the UN website was not an official UN product.

A World of Impunity

Guterres didn’t mince words. The Security Council, he said, is paralyzed—caught in the crossfire of superpower rivalries. That division has created a dangerous culture of impunity, where mid-sized nations feel empowered to wage war without consequence. "Superpowers have not yet recognized that their power has limits," he noted, pointing to prolonged conflicts like Ukraine. Without unity at the top, he warned, there is "no way to put order in the world."

India's Role and Mediation

Amid the turmoil, Guterres highlighted a bright spot: India’s consistent push for peace. He expressed deep appreciation for New Delhi’s efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the critical need for trustworthy intermediaries. "No country is better placed than India," he said, praising its role as a bridge-builder in an era of collapsing trust.

I’m very appreciative of the efforts of mediation that India has had — the contacts, the permanent contacts with the parties to the conflicts in order to create conditions to allow for trust to be reestablished.

Reform or Overhaul?

Guterres acknowledged the urgent need for UN reform, particularly of the Security Council and Bretton Woods institutions, which he said still reflect a 1945 worldview. But he pushed back strongly against the idea that the UN is broken. From humanitarian aid in war zones to peacekeeping and global AI governance, he argued, the organization remains full of vitality. Its real constraint isn’t capability—it’s power politics.

Looking Ahead

As his term concludes, Guterres ruled out seeking another. He voiced strong support for gender parity at the highest levels of the UN and hinted that a female Secretary-General would be a welcome step. Reflecting on his decade in office, he cited consistent adherence to UN principles as his proudest achievement—and member states’ resistance to structural reform as his greatest regret.