UN Secretary-General Warns World Is in ‘Great Peril’ Amid Rising Geopolitical ‘Dysfunction’

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that world powers were “gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction” in his opening remarks to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. 

“Let’s have no illusions. We are in rough seas. A winter of global discontent is on the horizon. A cost-of-living crisis is raging. Trust is crumbling. Our planet is burning. People are hurting – with the most vulnerable suffering the most. The United Nations Charter and the ideals it represents are in jeopardy,” Guterres said, calling for a “coalition of the world” to overcome divisions and provide hope. The U.N. chief praised a recent food shipping agreement between Russia and Ukraine as an example of “multilateral diplomacy in action.” 

Guterres' remarks kicked off a series of speeches by world leaders. Other Tuesday speakers included French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Wednesday’s speakers will include U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Coverage was common across the spectrum but less prominently featured in right-rated outlets. While CNN (Left bias) featured live coverage of the General Assembly, Fox News (Right bias) published an article questioning whether the U.N. was “worth all the money.” Coverage across the spectrum highlighted the “great peril” quote, and some coverage from the right highlighted policies Guterres supported which U.S. audiences might see as left-leaning.