This comes as President Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland, framing it as a national security issue and suggesting alliances shouldn't hinder U.S. expansion.
United Nations: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued a blistering rebuke of global leaders on Wednesday, warning that the international order is being dismantled as President Donald Trump used the World Economic Forum to reiterate his aggressive demand for the United States to acquire Greenland.
In a statement posted to social media platform X, Guterres cautioned that the world is entering a dangerous era where raw power is beginning to supersede the rule of law.
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"When leaders run roughshod over international law, picking & choosing which rules to follow — they are undermining global order & setting a perilous precedent," Guterres said.
The U.N. chief's remarks coincided with the speech by Trump in the Swiss Alps, in which the U.S. president characterised the acquisition of Greenland as a matter of national security and suggested that traditional alliances like NATO should not obstruct American expansion. While Trump stated he would not use military force to seize the territory, he warned allies that their opposition to a sale would be "remembered."
Guterres further targeted the concentrated influence of global elites, suggesting that the erosion of institutions is being fueled by those who control information and wealth.
"When a handful of individuals can bend global narratives, sway elections, or dictate the terms of public debate, we are facing inequality and the corruption of institutions & our shared values," Guterres added.
The friction at Davos underscores a historic low in relations between Washington and the United Nations. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has pursued a "law of power" doctrine, with Guterres recently telling the BBC that the U.S. increasingly views multilateralism as irrelevant.
The Secretary-General, who is set to conclude his final term at the end of 2026, has framed his remaining time in office as a fight for the survival of the U.N. Charter against "brazen violations" by world powers.
With inputs from AFP
Published: 21 Jan 2026, 09:27 pm IST
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