MANHATTAN, New York — AS the world continues to experience a shifting geopolitical landscape, Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has called for decisive action to address the challenges facing the region and, by extension, the wider world.
The Caribbean remains at the forefront of the climate crisis, and Guyana is no exception. At the same time, ongoing wars, trade tensions, and shifting U.S. policies continue to impact the global order.
Delivering his address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Ali urged the body to engage in introspection as the international community grapples with persistent challenges—from food insecurity and armed conflicts to the worsening effects of climate change.
Although the UN has expanded its membership over the years, the body has faced mounting criticism for its inability to shield the world from escalating geopolitical crises and disasters.
“Where are we at 80?" Ali asked the Assembly. "Conflicts are raging as geopolitical tensions intensify, food insecurity is worsening, displacement is growing, human rights are being ignored, and climate change is threatening lives and livelihoods.”
He expressed concern that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are increasingly at risk due to shrinking development assistance and reduced peacekeeping budgets, which have driven up humanitarian costs.
"The United Nations’ noble mission to maintain international peace and security will ring hollow if it allows power to triumph over principle and might to override right,” Ali warned.
The Guyanese leader listed what he described as existential threats, including the "genocide in Palestine, annexation of Ukrainian territory, persecution of women in Afghanistan, humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, brutal gang violence in Haiti, increased transnational organized crime, trafficking and illegal migration”.
He also pointed to emerging dangers such as cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and the spread of misinformation.
On the war in Gaza, Ali condemned the scale of civilian suffering and renewed calls for a two-state solution.
"What we are witnessing is not warfare, but mass extermination—a systematic slaughter and displacement of Palestinian men, women, and children," President Ali declared. "Those who escape the bombs and bullets are condemned to die slowly, starved of food, water, and hope. This is a war crime…We must take urgent action to halt the genocide, return the hostages and accelerate our efforts towards the Two-State Solution. We urge Qatar, Egypt and the United States to continue their efforts in this regard,"
As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, Ali joined a growing chorus of world leaders voicing frustration at the body’s inability to safeguard peace and security in an increasingly volatile global environment.
