Antonio Guterres: A “moment of crisis” for the world – Warns about international law and the “law of force”

In a particularly charged intervention in the Hague, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on the course of the international legal order, describing a global environment where institutions justice and international law are being severely tested by the escalation of conflicts and the challenge of basic norms. Against the backdrop of the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice, he stressed that humanity is facing a critical crossroads, where the choice between the rule of law and the dominance of force will determine the stability and security of the coming decades.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaking in Xhague on the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice, described the current international conditions as a “moment of crisis” and a “moment of choice”, stressing that such periods “reveal who we are and what we stand for”.

The force of law must prevail

He recalled that eighty years ago, in the ruins of war, world leaders chose “to reject a future ruled by coercion and violence” and to build an international system founded on the United Nations Charter and international law, based on the belief that “the force of law must always prevail over the law of force”.

Referring to the historic role of the International Court of Justice, he noted that its decisions and opinions “have shaped the modern world”, adding that today “the Court has never been so sought after”, which he said demonstrates “the confidence that its authority and independence enjoy”.

He made particular reference to the increased presence of women in its composition, calling it “a sign of progress that must not be allowed to stop”, and praised the modernisation of its working methods, which “enhances its efficiency and resilience”.

Violations of international law are unfolding before our eyes

Guterres stressed that “the decisions of the Court, including provisional measures, are binding on the parties to any case” and that “respect for these decisions is not optional but an obligation under the Charter”.

He warned that today “violations of international law are unfolding before our eyes” as “military operations violate the basic rules governing conflict”, “humanitarian obligations are being ignored” and “the rules of international law protecting the United Nations itself are being violated”.

He also noted that the institutions created to deliver justice “are increasingly being challenged and tested.”

Investing in a world governed by justice

According to him, this erosion “is not happening on the periphery of the international system but at its core,” even by states that have “unique responsibilities for maintaining international peace and security.” He warned that when “the law of force replaces the force of law, instability becomes contagious”, conflicts “transcend borders”, economic shocks “reverberate globally” and “the most vulnerable suffer first and most”.

In closing, the Secretary-General called on States to choose “a future governed by the rule of law rather than brute force,” stressing that “international law offers States the certainty of a common language and the predictability of a common framework for peaceful dispute resolution.” As he said, “weakening it means eroding the foundations of global stability,” while “strengthening it means investing in a world governed by justice, not fear.”

He also called for a recommitment to peaceful dispute resolution, “respect for the Court’s decisions” and implementation of its opinions, stressing that “in this moment of crisis, this is the only right choice.”