United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning to world leaders on January 15, 2026, declaring that the UN Charter is not "a la carte menu" but a "prix fixe" compact binding all nations equally. Addressing the 193-member General Assembly during his final year in office—his second term ends December 31, 2026—Guterres denounced the brazen violations of international law that are eroding global order. He emphasized that when leaders "pick and choose" which rules to follow, they set a perilous precedent, undermining peace, human rights, and multilateral cooperation.

Guterres highlighted the visible "erosion of international law unfolding in 4K," with impunity playing out in real time through illegal use of force, attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, unconstitutional government changes, human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and resource plundering. He pointed to ongoing conflicts, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine—where he urged unrelenting efforts for a just peace aligned with the Charter—and recent escalations like U.S. actions in Venezuela leading to President Nicolas Maduro's capture, which he called a dangerous precedent ignoring international norms. These events, he said, exemplify how selective compliance threatens the foundations of the post-World War II order.

The UN chief tied these violations to broader crises of inequality and greed, noting that the top 1% control 43% of global financial assets while the richest 500 individuals gained $2.2 trillion in wealth last year alone. This concentration of power, he warned, amplifies divisions, sways elections, and distorts public discourse, further weakening multilateralism. Guterres stressed that the Charter demands full, faithful adherence—no exceptions—urging every member state to act as its true custodian rather than treating obligations as optional.

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Outlining priorities for 2026, Guterres called for three guiding principles: unwavering respect for the Charter "with no ifs, no ands, no buts"; pursuit of peace with justice, encompassing relations between nations and harmony with nature; and fostering unity amid deepening geopolitical rifts. He lamented cuts in development and humanitarian aid, self-defeating divides, and the rise of impunity, declaring that 2026 must count as the world stands at a crossroads between abandoning multilateralism or revitalizing it.

As Guterres enters his final stretch leading the UN, his blunt address served as both a farewell reflection and a urgent call to action. With conflicts raging, inequality soaring, and trust in global institutions fraying, he insisted the time for selective compliance is over—nations must recommit fully to the Charter's principles to avert further chaos and build a more just, peaceful world.

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