On September 23, 2026, US President Donald Trump delivered a highly anticipated speech at the United Nations, taking a starkly different tone from the organization's pleas for cooperation and restraint. Trump laid out a vision of a militaristic US unbound by international rules, boasting about US control over Venezuelan oil following the toppling of the government by US forces. He stated, "to the victor belong the spoils," sparking concerns about US actions on the global stage.
Trump's speech was marked by controversy, particularly his comments on Iran. He revealed a "big decision" on whether to make a deal with the country or "annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly." This statement comes amid a nearly seven-month war in Iran, raising concerns about the escalating conflict. In contrast, outgoing UN leader Antonio Guterres had warned about the dangers of "killer robots" and the need for international cooperation on AI regulation.
Several leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, used their speeches to warn about the future of the Palestinians amid Israel's expansion of West Bank settlements. Erdogan called for immediate reconstruction of Gaza, while French President Emmanuel Macron described the devastation as a "spectacle that shames us all." Macron urged countries to recommit to international law and the UN system, contrasting with Trump's stance.
The US and Denmark have signed a security deal, which includes the construction of two military bases in southern and eastern Greenland. The agreement aims to bar Russian influence in the strategically important Arctic Circle territory. This development comes after Trump threatened to take control of the territory by force. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv and Washington want the war with Russia to end before winter.
The UN Security Council is set to discuss the Ukraine war on Wednesday, as efforts to broker a deal have stalled in recent months. Guterres warned about the "specter of ethnic cleansing" in Israel's settlements expansion in the occupied West Bank, stating that violence, displacement, and settlement expansion are "bulldozing the path to peace." Trump's divisive speech also drew reactions from other countries, including Brazil, whose President Lula Inacio Lula da Silva stated that his country does not fit into anyone's "backyard."
On the issue of AI regulation, Trump rejected international proposals, calling them a "globalist scheme." In contrast, Guterres called for US-Chinese dialogue on the future of AI, similar to US-Soviet engagement during the Cold War. The UN chief also criticized global energy companies for treating the atmosphere "as an open sewer," highlighting the need for action on climate change.
The Cuban foreign minister reacted furiously to "falsehoods" spread by Trump, who claimed that the island "will fall." Cuban delegates left the room during Trump's speech, reflecting exceptionally strained Washington-Havana relations. The speech marked a significant moment in the UN's annual gathering, with many leaders sounding the alarm on global unrest and criticizing US actions on the world stage.
Key points
- Trump threatens to annihilate Iran in a "big decision" on the country's future.
- The US and Denmark sign a security deal, including the construction of two military bases in Greenland.
- Leaders warn about the future of the Palestinians amid Israel's expansion of West Bank settlements.
