‘When Leaders Run Roughshod…’: After Trump’s Davos Speech, A Veiled Message From UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres | World News

Minutes after US President Donald Trump finished his speech at the Davos summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a veiled message about X reminding world leaders of the UN Charter. In a post on X, Guterres said leaders who manipulate international law, choosing which rules to follow, undermine the global order.

“The United Nations Charter is the foundation of international relations, the cornerstone of peace, sustainable development and human rights. When leaders grossly flout international law and pick and choose which rules to follow, they undermine the global order and set a dangerous precedent,” Guterres said.

The UN Secretary-General also said the world faces inequality and corruption of institutions when a handful of people distort global narratives, influence elections or dictate the terms of public debate.

@BM The Charter is the foundation of international relations, the basis of peace, sustainable development and human rights.

When leaders grossly flout international law and pick and choose which rules to follow, they undermine the global order and create a dangerous environment. — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 21, 2026

“The Convention is a contract that binds us all. All countries must comply with it fully and faithfully,” he said.

It was especially noteworthy that this comment came after Trump, from the World Economic Forum podium in Davos, claimed rights over Greenland, warned NATO and tried to pressure Canada. Trump said the United States should restart negotiations with Denmark to take Greenland, arguing that the vast Arctic region was a “core national security interest” and could only be protected by Washington amid growing global military threats.

Claiming that the island has a critical strategic location “right in the middle” between the United States, Russia and China, Trump said, “No nation or group of nations other than the United States is in a position to secure Greenland.”

Trump on Wednesday criticized America’s traditional allies, European leaders and NATO member states for failing to adequately defend their own security interests as Washington bore the brunt of the Ukraine war, while what he called disproportionate reliance on U.S. military might and financial support.

Speaking at a meeting of European and global leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said, “The United States is being treated very unfairly by NATO,” arguing that America pays much more for Europe’s defense than its longtime allies. “We give so much and get so little in return,” he said.

Trump said NATO would not exist in its current form without his leadership. “You wouldn’t have NATO if I wasn’t involved,” he said, claiming that he had forced alliance members to significantly increase defense spending after years of discord.

He said most NATO countries had failed to meet even the earlier requirement to spend two percent of GDP on defence. “They didn’t pay for two, now they’re paying for five,” Trump said, claiming he was forcing his allies to commit to levels of defense spending previously thought impossible.

The US President questioned whether European allies would respond if the US was attacked. “We’ll be there for them 100 percent,” he said. “I’m not sure they’ll be there for us.”