UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C, L) and Annalena Baerbock (C, R), president of the United Nations General Assembly, arrive to attend a solemn sitting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the inaugural session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)

THE HAGUE, April 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called on the international community to choose a future governed by the rule of law rather than one driven by raw power in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Guterres noted that "violations of international law are unfolding before our eyes."

"It is precisely because the international system is under such strain that adherence to international law matters more than ever, especially in this era of shifting power dynamics," he said.

Guterres warned that weakening international law risks eroding the foundations of global stability. "When the law of force replaces the force of law, instability becomes contagious," he cautioned.

Iwasawa Yuji, president of the ICJ, echoed these concerns, pointing to troubling signs of disengagement from international obligations, growing resistance to compliance, and increasing skepticism toward multilateralism.

"The Court responds to these challenges by carrying out its judicial function, by interpreting and applying international law rigorously and in good faith," he said.

The ICJ, the UN's highest tribunal, is the only international court that settles disputes between the 193 UN member states. This means that it makes an important contribution to global peace and security, providing a way for countries to resolve issues without resorting to conflict.

Established in 1945 and based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, the ICJ held a solemn sitting on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its inaugural session. The event was attended by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, alongside senior international and Dutch officials. ■

This photo taken on April 17, 2026 shows the Peace Palace where a solemn sitting is held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the inaugural session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)

Dutch King Willem-Alexander (R) and Iwasawa Yuji, president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arrive to attend a solemn sitting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the inaugural session of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)