Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 16 January 2026. The government readout stressed the United Kingdom’s enduring support for the UN and the international rules-based system, noting the 80th anniversary of the first UN General Assembly in London.
In the No.10 statement, the Prime Minister congratulated the Secretary-General on the anniversary and underlined the UN’s role in tackling global problems that affect people in the UK and worldwide. Both discussed the organisation’s reform programme; the Prime Minister welcomed progress to date and said the UK would continue to support efforts to drive the work forward.
The communication did not set out new funding, legislative proposals or specific negotiating positions. For policy teams and Parliament watchers, the message signals continuity of the UK’s multilateral posture rather than a change of course, pending any further detail from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
In practice, reaffirmed support for UN reform typically pertains to improvements in peace operations, development effectiveness, financing and working methods. While the readout remained high level, officials will apply this stance across ongoing negotiations in New York and Geneva, including routine Security Council and General Assembly business.
The historical reference matters. The first session of the UN General Assembly convened at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, in January 1946, as recorded by the United Nations and UK archives. Marking 80 years offers a platform for London to underline a long-standing role in multilateral diplomacy.
No.10 added that the Prime Minister thanked the Secretary-General for his leadership and that both look forward to speaking again. As is common with leader-level engagements, any subsequent announcements are likely to be issued through formal channels once workstreams reach decision points.
For UK departments, immediate next steps are routine: monitor UN reform discussions, align departmental objectives with FCDO positions and prepare ministerial briefings ahead of multilateral meetings later in the year. Stakeholders should watch for written statements or select committee evidence if substantive changes are proposed.
This report is based on the Downing Street readout published on 16 January 2026. Policy Wire will track further publications from No.10, the Cabinet Office and the United Nations Secretariat relating to the reform agenda and any associated UK commitments.