Former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for sweeping reforms of the global institution he once led, warning that the growing trend of unilateralism—particularly from powerful nations—is weakening the United Nations at a time when international cooperation is needed most.
Speaking at the Fullerton Forum hosted by the University of Hong Kong’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World (CCCW) on Tuesday, Ban emphasized that recent global conflicts — including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war in Gaza — underscore the urgent need to strengthen multilateralism.
According to coverage by the South China Morning Post, Ban described the two crises as “one of the most dangerous moments for global security, and challenges to multilateralism, in decades.”
“These conflicts, along with pandemics and climate change, have shown how interconnected we are,” Ban said in his keynote address. “They also make it clear that we need multilateral responses.”
Ban, who led the UN from 2007 to 2016 and now serves as deputy chair of The Elders, a group of global statesmen founded by Nelson Mandela, did not shy away from assigning blame. While not naming any specific countries, he criticized the actions of “some powerful nations” that are, in his view, undermining the UN system.
However, Ban took direct aim at former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose policies he said bolstered a dangerous shift toward unilateralism. He cited Trump’s repeated withdrawals from major international bodies and agreements — including the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organization, and the UN Human Rights Council — as damaging to global governance.
“The advent of Trumpism has seriously impacted global development and undermined international cooperation,” Ban said, echoing concerns that have been voiced widely across the diplomatic community since Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency earlier this year.
Indeed, in just the first months of his second term, Trump has pulled the United States out of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the International Criminal Court, and reaffirmed the country’s exit from the Paris Climate Accord and WHO. These moves have intensified fears that American disengagement could leave a vacuum on the world stage.
Ban’s speech came amid ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran, which escalated on June 13. Israeli air strikes have reportedly targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, senior commanders, and military infrastructure. The rapidly intensifying war has added to concerns over the UN’s diminishing influence in resolving major international crises.
Against this backdrop, Ban advocated for urgent institutional reforms of the United Nations and its agencies, stating they must be “strengthened through timely and necessary reforms.” He also called for greater collaboration between the UN and national governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, and youth to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and implement the Paris Agreement.
Ban praised China for its continued commitment to global climate efforts, singling out its contribution to the Paris Agreement and ongoing green initiatives. His remarks echo China’s own diplomatic stance, which has emphasized multilateralism in contrast to growing Western disengagement.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, Ban addressed a forum attended by more than 70 dignitaries, including foreign consuls general and representatives from international organizations.
Ultimately, Ban’s message was clear: the United Nations cannot remain static in a rapidly shifting global landscape. Without reform and renewed commitment to collective action, the institution risks becoming irrelevant in the face of global crises — from geopolitical conflict to climate collapse.
“In this deeply interconnected world, no nation can stand alone,” Ban concluded. “Only through cooperation and multilateralism can we secure a sustainable and peaceful future.”
