World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly high-level week warned that global rules are collapsing and urged nations to choose the power of law over the law of force.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, stated that International Law has been cast aside in many global conflicts. He declared ‘enough is enough’ and demanded that nations fully restore humanitarian aid access and maritime freedoms under International Law.
Tom Fletcher, the UN relief chief, shared 10 humanitarian diplomacy goals to protect aid workers and uphold International Humanitarian Law.
Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, warned that the fall of global rules threatens smaller and middle powers. He stated that a safe world needs governance by laws, not just raw power.
Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, urged countries to stop ignoring wars and to reinvest heavily in human rights and conflict prevention.
Duma Boko, the President of Botswana, called for honest adherence to the UN Charter and consistent application of International Law for all countries.
I am currently researching emerging norms under International Law in relation to the Mediation of Cultural Heritage Disputes for my next book – see www.carlislam.co.uk.
During his address to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York on 22 September 2026, Donald Trump stated that he is weighing whether to ‘annihilate’ the Iranian regime and drive it ‘into hell’ if they do not agree to a peace deal.
Using a global platform dedicated to conflict resolution to threaten the ‘annihilation’ of a nation contradicts the core mission of the UN. From this perspective, the UN General Assembly is a space meant for multilateral diplomacy, international law, and the prevention of war. Bringing threats of total destruction into that forum is a grotesque, vulgar and perverse violation of the institution’s foundational principles.
So – it appears that we are fast approaching a ‘crossroads’ because diplomatically what Tump did amounted to dancing on the coffin lid of International Law.
As far as I am aware neither Burnham nor any sitting Labour ministers and mainstream Labour MPs have condemned Trump’s ‘annihilation’ warning.
Logically, since normalising anarchy can result in the consequential normalisation of the unlawful use of nuclear weapons – what harm have these politicians done this week to the fabric of the global rules-based international order?
Burnham – who has already involved the UK in wars in Europe and the Middle East, received no academic or professional education in either Geopolitics or International Law.
I wonder – will any MP at PMQ’s next week ask him – ‘How do these wars and aligning with Trump’s warning of annihilation, serve any strategic British National Security interest and objective?’
In other words – will they ask Burnham – ‘Are you weak or geopolitically illiterate?’
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