UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that restoring confidence in the global system is “the defining challenge of our time”, as the 81st session of the UN General Assembly opens with newly installed President Khalilur Rahman calling for renewed international cooperation and trust in multilateralism.

Addressing the Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged full support to Rahman, affirming that restoring confidence in the multilateral architecture represents the essential priority for member states.

Guterres highlighted ongoing armed conflicts, nuclear escalation risks, deep poverty, climate disruption, and unregulated artificial intelligence as severe forces straining international bodies, including the Security Council and global financial institutions.

He concluded with an appeal for diplomatic engagement: "Through diplomacy, dialogue, and collaboration, this Assembly can rebuild the trust and good faith that is missing from our geopolitics today and ensure the people of the world inherit a better, healthier and more peaceful future."

Avoiding global catastrophe

Rahman observed that the organisation's endurance over eight decades reflects its foundational mission, noting: "For more than eight decades, our organisation has helped the world avoid plunging into a third world war, arguably the very reason for its existence."

"A widening trust deficit is testing confidence in international institutions and collective action, a deficit that we must close by working together through dialogue, renewed cooperation, and delivery," Rahman said, pledging to work tirelessly throughout the session to revive faith in the institution.

The 81st session is convening under the theme: "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All."