January 19, 2026
Law & Disorder: Internet’s verdict is savage
US believes its power matters more than international law, UN chief
UN boss blasts US; commenters argue international law is a myth
TLDR: UN chief António Guterres says the U.S. favors raw power over global rules and calls for Security Council reform. The comments section erupts: hard-nosed realists say “no cops, no law,” others want stronger enforcement; cynics quip “law is for little people” as Greenland memes return.
Antonio Guterres just told the BBC that some powerful countries think the “law of power” beats the “power of law,” and yes, the internet had thoughts. He questioned whether the UN Security Council still represents the world and slammed how vetoes get used like personal cheat codes. He also admitted the UN has “no leverage” next to big powers, while calling for reform and fewer veto blockages. Cue the comments going full courtroom drama.
The loudest camp? The hardline realists. One commenter flat-out declared international law doesn’t exist—only whoever can hold the land. Another said it’s not just the US; without an international police force, rules are basically vibes. A more nuanced crowd shot back: the law is real, but the system’s broken because countries like the US and Russia cherry-pick when to obey it. Cynics piled on with “law is for the little people,” turning Guterres’s plea into a meme about power playing by different rules.
Humor flew fast: Greenland jokes reappeared, “UN has no leverage, just meetings” made the rounds, and someone dubbed the Security Council “Veto Bingo.” Through it all, the mood was spicy: some want stronger global enforcement, others say stop pretending and accept the raw power game. For context, here’s the UN Charter for what the rules are supposed to be. The verdict? Internet says it’s Law & Order: Geopolitics, and the finale is still pending.
Key Points
- •António Guterres said the US is acting with impunity, prioritising power over international law and dismissing multilateral solutions.
- •He acknowledged the UN’s limited leverage compared with major powers and questioned whether their influence yields durable solutions rather than quick fixes.
- •Guterres called the UN Security Council ineffective and unrepresentative, criticising the use of vetoes by permanent members, including the US and Russia, on Ukraine and Gaza.
- •He urged reforms to the Security Council’s composition and advocated limiting veto powers to avoid blockages and regain legitimacy.
- •Guterres highlighted Gaza as a key conflict, noting Israel’s blocking of UN aid and support for an external contractor; he also referenced Trump’s criticism of the UN and said his term ends this year.