Source: United Nations (video statements)
Secretary-General António Guterres told the General Assembly that global instability, economic hardship and the misuse of emerging technologies are creating fertile ground for terrorism, as the UN opened its 2026 Counter-Terrorism Week.
“We meet at a moment of acute instability,” Guterres said today (29 Jun). “Conflicts are triggering energy shocks, inflation and hunger across the globe. Temperatures are rising. Millions are displaced. And millions more face economic hardship. These conditions – of want, of fragility, of mistrust – are ideal circumstances for terror to thrive.”
Guterres said sustainable development and human rights were central to prevention efforts. “This is why advancing sustainable development and upholding human rights are vital to counterterrorism,” he said. “In practice, this means expanding economic opportunity; ensuring greater inclusion for minorities; enabling the meaningful participation of women and youth; supporting local peacebuilding efforts; and protecting civic space. A more equal world is a safer world. That is the power of prevention.”
He pointed to victims’ testimony and private-sector cooperation as key tools in countering extremist narratives. “Victims share powerful testimonies that challenge terrorist narratives,” Guterres said. “And the private sector plays a crucial role in sharing insight and securing the technologies terrorists seek to exploit. Our allies are found across society – and by working together, we enhance our reach and our legitimacy.”
The Secretary-General warned that terrorist groups have grown adept at exploiting artificial intelligence, digital platforms and unmanned weapons to recruit members, raise funds and plan attacks, but said the same technologies could be turned toward prevention.
“Terrorists have grown adept at exploiting emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and unmanned weapons,” he said. “These tools have supercharged their ability to recruit, finance and plan attacks. But technology also offers powerful tools to detect threats early, stop the flow of illicit assets, and understand pathways to terrorist radicalization.”
He noted that Member States had committed to harnessing digital tools for the public good through the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact and said the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI would provide further guidance.
Guterres also said terrorism was evolving and that the international community must adapt accordingly, calling for prevention, cooperation and a steadfast commitment to human rights to build a world where people can live free from fear.
Guterres’ remarks opened the Fourth United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States, running 29-30 June under the theme “A Future Free from Terrorism: Consolidating the Global Commitment to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Counter Terrorism, notably through Member States’ Leadership and Action.”