Middle East 'on brink of collapse', UN leader cautions

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has sounded the alarm that the Middle East is teetering on the brink of collapse, with a surge in shipping attacks, escalating oil prices, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

n

The UN chief issued a fervent plea for a ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations to resolve the ongoing conflict in the region, during a ceremony in Türkiye where he accepted the Atatürk International Award for Peace.

n

Guterres emphasized that all combatants must immediately cease hostilities, uphold international law, and protect civilians, while also making a swift return to the negotiating table.

n

He lamented that despite widespread talk of peace, the world is witnessing scant evidence of it, and instead, international law is being consistently disregarded, power politics are gaining traction, and inequalities are widening.

n

Guterres also warned that the emergence of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, risks exacerbating violence rather than preventing it, and that military spending is skyrocketing while lifesaving aid is in sharp decline.

n

The UN chief noted that civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict, with rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities, and that the massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel, as well as the subsequent attacks by Iran, pose a grave threat to international peace and security.

n

Guterres stressed that the region is being pushed to the breaking point, with far-reaching consequences that are cascading around the world, including disrupted trade, rising energy and food prices, and deepening insecurity and instability.

n

He observed that the most vulnerable populations are being hurt first and worst, and that the region and the world urgently need a path towards de-escalation and dialogue, which he believes is the only way out of the crisis.

n

Guterres' visit to Türkiye was part of his annual solidarity tour to a Muslim nation during the holy month of Ramadan, and he described these visits as a powerful reminder of the true spirit of Islam: compassion, community, and empathy.

n

He accepted the Atatürk International Award on behalf of UN staff, honouring their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and build peace around the world, and also paid tribute to the memory of aid workers who have lost their lives.

n

Guterres concluded by urging collective action to give peace a chance, as he accepted the award and shone a global spotlight on the generous spirit of the Turkish people.