UN chief warns of global chaos as US prioritizes power over intl law

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a critique of the United States foreign policy, warning that Washington's "law of power" is systematically undermining the international law.

In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Guterres asserted that the US increasingly views multilateralism as irrelevant, favoring the exercise of raw influence over established global norms.

The UN chief's remarks follow a series of destabilizing geopolitical events, including the recent US seizure of the Venezuelan president and President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that the US must annex Greenland.

Guterres suggested these actions exemplify a "clear conviction" within Washington that the UN's founding principles — specifically the sovereign equality of member states — no longer apply to world powers.

"There are those that believe the power of law should be replaced by the law of power," the 76-year-old diplomat, who is set to conclude his term at the end of 2026, told BBC. He admitted the UN currently lacks the leverage to force major powers to abide by the UN Charter.

The relationship between the UN and the US has reached a historic low under the current administration. President Trump has frequently questioned the organization's purpose, claiming during last September's General Assembly that the UN "wasn't there for us" while he unilaterally sought to end long-standing conflicts.

The friction underscores a broader shift in global politics. Since its inception in 1945, the United Nations has relied on the cooperation of its most powerful members to enforce international law. However, Guterres warned that "1945 problem-solving" is insufficient for 2026's challenges.

Despite the "brazen violations" of international law, Guterres maintained a call for resistance against unilateralism. "If we don't confront the powerful, we will never be able to have a better world," he concluded.