US undermining international law, multilateral order: UN chief

New Delhi, Jan 19: The United Nations chief has accused the United States of acting with impunity and placing power above international law, warning that the founding principles of multilateralism are under strain, the BBC reported.

In remarks to BBC Radio, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Washington appeared convinced that multilateral solutions were irrelevant and that the exercise of US power and influence often took precedence over international legal norms.

He said this approach threatened the UN Charter’s core principles, including the equality of member states.

Guterres, in the interview, acknowledged that the UN was struggling to ensure compliance with international law, noting that major powers wield greater leverage and often use it to pursue narrow interests rather than lasting solutions.

He also called for urgent reform of the UN, particularly the Security Council, which he said no longer reflects global realities and has become ineffective due to frequent use of veto powers. The comments came amid growing global tensions, including conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and debates over the future of multilateralism.

Guterres, whose term ends later this year, reiterated that confronting powerful states was essential to upholding the rule of law and creating a more stable international order.