UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (AP) — As the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary this week, the mood is one of gravity rather than celebration. Created in 1945 to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," the UN is now facing a decline in its global influence, deep internal tensions, and an existential questioning of its relevance in a multipolar and fragmented world.
War still rages in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Burma, and eastern Congo. And while the major powers clash or ignore each other, the Security Council remains paralyzed, unable to act, even in the face of the recent outbreak of violence between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
An organization in crisis of resources and confidence
Undermined by budget cuts—particularly from the United States under President Trump—and forced to cut up to 20 percent of its administration, the UN is in deep crisis. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has initiated a sweeping reform program, including the "Compact for the Future," but divisions among member states are making structural change difficult.
"This is not a date to celebrate," laments Kazakhstan's ambassador, Kairat Umarov. "This is supposed to be a United Nations United, not disunited.
A threatened, but still useful, heritage
Yet the record isn't all bleak. Over eight decades, the UN has led 71 peacekeeping missions, contributed to decolonization, and structured global humanitarian aid. Agencies like UNICEF, the UNHCR, and the IAEA remain pillars of international action. For former Singaporean Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani, the UN has above all prevented a Third World War: "Despite everything, the world is generally more peaceful today."
Even critics like John Bolton, a former US ambassador to the UN, acknowledge that the organization is more a reflection of the current level of geopolitical tensions, where the United States, China, and Russia are at odds at every level.
An inevitable reform?
Enlarging the Security Council—which still excludes Africa and Latin America from its permanent membership—has been discussed for decades without success. Yet many analysts believe its long-term survival depends on it. Antonio Guterres's succession, scheduled for 2027, could provide an opportunity for new impetus... or a drastic reduction in the institution's ambitions.
Despite its weaknesses, Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, insists that the UN "remains essential": "It is the only legitimate voice that can speak on behalf of eight billion people." And as long as the major powers remain members, he says, "every day they remain is a vote of confidence in the UN."
Conclusion
Is the UN outdated? Fragile, without an army or real autonomy, often powerless in the face of major crises... but still standing. For some, its very survival, in times of global chaos, is already a victory.
As Mahbubani says: “The UN will outlive us all.”
