British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned members of the UN General Assembly on Thursday that the world was in a “slide into greater and greater conflict, instability and injustice,” and called on Israel and Hezbollah to stand down.
Starmer said the UK would return to “responsible global leadership,” suggesting the country would play a greater role in helping to bring peace to war-torn regions of the world, including in Middle East.
“This starts with addressing the rising tide of conflict and preventing a regional war in the Middle East.
“I call on Israel and Hezbollah: Stop the violence, step back from the brink. We need to see an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement,” Starmer said at the 79th UN General Assembly meeting.
“And we are working with all partners to that end, because further escalation serves no one. It offers nothing but more suffering for innocent people on all sides, and the prospect of a wider wall that no one can control, and with consequences that none of us can foresee.”
Starmer said the continuing crisis in Gaza was an indictment of the international community.
“This is intimately linked with the situation in Gaza where again, we need to see an immediate ceasefire. It shames us all that the suffering in Gaza continues to grow. The answer is diplomacy, the release of all the hostages, and the unfettered flow of aid to those in need,” Starmer said.
“That is the only way to break this devastating cycle of violence and begin the journey towards a political solution for the long term which delivers the long-promised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
He added: “Conflict touches more countries now than at any time in the history of this assembly around the world, more fires are breaking out and burning with ever greater intensity. Exacting a terrible toll in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, and beyond.”
On Sudan, Starmer said it was the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.” And added: “We need to see greater action to deliver aid and to deliver peace. The world cannot look away. And we must stand up for international law.”
On Iran, Starmer said Tehran was not fulfilling its obligations. “Iran continues to expand its nuclear activity in violation of its international commitments.”
On the uses of artificial intelligence, he said: “Incredible new technologies like AI are being deployed for military use without agreed rules. These are difficult challenges to grip and too urgent to ignore. That’s why the new Pact for the Future is so important.
“We must put new energy and creativity into conflict resolution and conflict prevention, reverse the trend towards ever-greater violence, make the institutions of peace fit for purpose, and hold members to their commitments under the UN Charter.”
He called for a structural revamp of the UN Security Council to achieve these goals, and make it “a more representative body, willing to act — not paralyzed by politics.
“We want to see permanent African representation on the council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members and more seats for elected members as well.
“Finally, to support this, we will also change how the UK does things. Moving from the paternalism of the past towards partnership for the future. Listening a lot more, speaking a bit less. Offering game-changing British expertise and working together in the spirit of equal respect.”
Starmer has served as UK prime minister since 2024 and as leader of the Labour Party since 2020.
