UN chief on erosion of international law: ‘Charter not à la carte menu’

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday issued a blunt warning against the growing erosion of international law, saying the UN Charter is not an “à la carte menu” that countries can selectively follow, but a binding compact that must be upheld “fully and faithfully”.

Addressing the 193-member UN General Assembly as he enters the final year of his tenure, Guterres said he remains “fully committed and determined” to make every day of 2026 count, even as global cooperation faces unprecedented strain.

Against the backdrop of recent geopolitical crises — including US military action in Venezuela, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and multiple ongoing conflicts — the UN chief said the world is being shaken by conflict, impunity, inequality and unpredictability.

“A world marked by self-defeating geopolitical divides… brazen violations of international law… and wholesale cuts in development and humanitarian aid. These forces are shaking the foundations of global cooperation and testing the resilience of multilateralism itself,” he said.

Calling it the paradox of the current era, Guterres said international cooperation is needed more than ever, yet countries are increasingly unwilling to invest in or respect it.

“Some seek to put international cooperation on deathwatch. I can assure you: we will not give up,” he asserted.

Guterres’ second five-year term as UN Secretary-General ends on December 31, 2026. His remarks came during his annual address outlining priorities for the year ahead.

The UN chief has previously expressed alarm over the escalation between the United States and Venezuela, describing the capture of President Nicolas Maduro as a “dangerous precedent” and warning that international legal norms had not been respected. He has also consistently condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, urging an immediate halt to the fighting and a just, lasting peace in line with the UN Charter and international law.

Reiterating that the Charter is a binding agreement for all nations, Guterres said:

“The UN Charter is not an ‘à la carte menu’. It is prix fixe. We must adhere to the UN Charter — fully and faithfully. No ifs… no ands… no buts.”

Describing the Charter as the bedrock of peace, sustainable development and human rights, he reminded member states that responsibility for upholding it lies not only with the Secretary-General but with every nation.

“When leaders run roughshod over international law — when they pick and choose which rules to follow — they are not only undermining global order, they are setting a perilous precedent,” he warned.

Guterres expressed concern that the erosion of international law is no longer hidden but is unfolding “live in 4K” before the world’s eyes, with people witnessing the consequences of impunity in real time — from the illegal use of force and attacks on civilians to constitutional breakdowns, human rights abuses and the silencing of dissent.

He also highlighted the role of extreme economic inequality in weakening global institutions, noting that the top one per cent controls 43 per cent of global financial assets, while the world’s 500 richest individuals added $2.2 trillion to their wealth in the past year alone.

“Increasingly, we see a world where the ultra-wealthiest and the companies they control are calling the shots like never before,” he said, warning that such influence risks corrupting institutions, distorting public debate and eroding shared democratic values.

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