Macron Defends UN, Urges Rejection of Power Politics in Final General Assembly Speech

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered his final address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, mounting a vigorous defense of the United Nations and the multilateral order. He urged the international community not to succumb to fatalism or the "law of the jungle" driven by great powers.

Macron framed his appeal around five principles: rejecting the inevitability of war, refusing double standards in international law, bridging the North-South divide, maintaining the fight against climate change, and preserving human control over artificial intelligence. He argued that forgetting the lessons of the 20th century constitutes both a moral failing and a political error.

“Do we want to live in this state of nature with a return to the law of the jungle or in a civilized international society?”

The president called for reform of the UN Security Council, specifically advocating for greater African representation and limits on the veto in cases of mass atrocities. He cited Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa as critical tests for the current international order.

Macron pledged continued French political and operational support for international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, whose judges face US sanctions. He warned that allowing a new order of impunity to take root would lead to a "new era of barbarism."

The speech served as a capstone to his presidency, as Macron leaves office next spring after two terms. He insisted his decade-long message remains one of "determined, optimistic action" rather than resignation.