The UN General Assembly is set to kick off this week, with hundreds of diplomats and world leaders attending the event at the organization's New York headquarters. Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed reporters at his last press conference ahead of the assembly, noting that the notorious escalator at the UN has been fixed after a malfunction last year involving US President Donald Trump. Guterres also highlighted the theme of this year's assembly: "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all."
The General Assembly will feature a high density of diplomats and world leaders, making it a prime spot for meetings on the sidelines of the main event. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Gulf leaders to discuss the next phase of the war with Iran. French President Emmanuel Macron plans to convene a follow-up meeting on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold a meeting with Trump, as he did last year.
The speeches delivered from the General Assembly podium often attract attention for the behavior of the audience as much as the speakers themselves. Last year, numerous delegates left the auditorium while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke. This year, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will speak first, followed by Netanyahu, Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. However, Abbas will likely address the chamber via video due to the Trump administration's refusal to grant him a visa.
The list of speakers will set the tenor for this year's assembly, according to Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group. Forti noted that while over 130 heads of state or government are expected to attend, it's unclear what signals they will provide to the UN. One big question is whether Chinese leader Xi Jinping will make a surprise appearance in New York, as he is due to appear in Washington for a state visit during the General Assembly.
The General Assembly is also a place where deals are struck or formalized. Trump is expected to sign an agreement negotiated with Denmark and Greenland that would hand the US "permanent control" over Greenlandic security. The deal's details are unclear, but it would likely differ from current arrangements, which grant the US a large military presence on the island.
As the General Assembly gets underway, there will be a few notable goodbyes: France's Emmanuel Macron and Guterres are making their final appearances at the event. The race to replace Guterres before the end of the year will be front of mind for many attendees, Forti said. Guterres has spent much of his 10-year tenure focused on development financing, climate change, and girding the UN for the rise of artificial intelligence.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will travel to New York to speak at the General Assembly, marking a significant moment as his country is actively engaged in combat with the United States. The Trump administration has allowed Pezeshkian's "core delegation" to attend, but under travel restrictions and with prohibitions on luxury goods purchases. The delegation is smaller than last year, a State Department spokesperson said.
Key points
- The UN General Assembly will feature a high-level meeting on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will speak at the General Assembly, despite his country's active conflict with the US.
- Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron are making their final appearances at the General Assembly.
