25/09/2025
"Every person in the world contributes $750 to the world's weapons" - Antonio Guterres
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Leaders attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have said that the world needs to work together to overcome the challenges of peace.
They called on all parties to choose multilateralism, respect for the rule of law and cooperation over chaos, isolation and individual interests.
The leaders' speech, which is being held under the theme "80 years better together: doing more for peace, development and human rights", called for the proper implementation of the UN Charter to resolve the current geopolitical crisis.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged in his speech, "Peace instead of war, international law instead of force."
He said the ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan were a sign of disregard for international law, and called for urgent action to ensure humanitarian aid and international cooperation.
Guterres said that the cost of each weapon is $750, which shows that the world is spending more on war than on peace and development.
Several leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, have called for the UN to strengthen its cooperation to achieve genuine peace.
“After 80 years of the United Nations, the world is losing faith in us,” said President Macron, calling this a question mark over the international order and the organization’s ability to resolve conflicts.
President Ramaphosa, for his part, called for the 80th anniversary of the United Nations to be a time when all members can work together to address common challenges.
“At a time when the world should be prioritizing the achievement of development goals, increasing military spending is a moral disaster,” said President Ramaphosa.
He added, “When we should be building infrastructure for development, we are building weapons; when we should be fighting poverty, we are fighting wars,” and condemned the world’s shift from peace to conflict.
The leaders called for a peaceful and lasting solution to the crises between Ukraine and Russia and in the Middle East.
The leaders also stressed that peace is inseparable from human rights, justice and development.
The leaders emphasized in their speeches that integrated humanitarian, development and peace efforts are essential for stability and post-conflict recovery.
The leaders conveyed the message that addressing global challenges ranging from climate change to non-violent conflict must prioritize strengthening the principles of collective security and international governance enshrined in the UN Charter, setting aside personal interests.
US President Donald Trump said in a meeting with the UN Secretary-General that he appreciated the work the UN is doing to build peace.