United Nations: 81st General Assembly opens in New York

United Nations: 81st General Assembly opens in New York

The atmosphere is one of “an era of profound uncertainty,” in the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as the 81st United Nations General Assembly opens its debate on Tuesday, September 22. Heads of state and government from around the world are taking part, addressing international challenges ranging from security and geopolitical tensions to economic issues and artificial intelligence.

Following the Secretary-General’s opening report on the state of the world, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will, as is tradition, be the first speaker, followed by US President Donald Trump. Other world leaders will then take the floor, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to meet with Trump today.

The high-level debate will continue through September 26. The war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and the hostilities between the United States and Iran will be among the most prominent issues. The latter conflict has a significant impact on oil prices and disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. The conflict in Sudan is also on the agenda.

Regarding the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, France has announced that it is working on a new UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation.

Expectations are generally realistic, with few anticipating any major breakthroughs. There is, however, considerable attention on what will happen away from the spotlight of the General Assembly chamber—namely, the bilateral meetings focused on the ongoing conflicts. A meeting between UN Secretary-General Guterres and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is already scheduled for September 24.

For the first time in its history, the General Assembly has also placed artificial intelligence at the top of its agenda—seeking a global agreement to establish limits on its development and use. Guterres has included AI among the “three existential threats” of our time, alongside the climate crisis and growing inequality.

The list of absentees is also notable. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a delegate, although he is nevertheless expected to hold a direct meeting with Trump in Washington.