The primary purpose of the United Nations at the time of its establishment in 1945 and as set forth in the preamble to its charter was to

While the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has become a significant focus for the UN, this goal was not articulated as a primary objective at the time of the organization's founding. The UN's initial mission centered more broadly on maintaining peace and fostering international cooperation rather than specifically addressing weapon development.

Although combating terrorism has become an essential aspect of the UN's work, especially in the 21st century, it was not a primary focus when the UN was established. The original charter did not specifically address terrorism, as it emerged as a significant global issue much later.

While decolonization became a crucial issue for the UN in subsequent decades, at its inception in 1945, the organization was primarily concerned with maintaining peace and preventing another world war. The independence of colonial territories was not explicitly stated as a foundational purpose.