World leaders are converging in New York for the UN General Assembly, with the widening conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the risks of artificial intelligence, dominating the agenda. Nearly 130 heads of state are attending, as the post-World War Two order faces strain and the UN struggles to remain relevant. The organization is weathering attacks from US President Donald Trump, who has slashed America's contributions and withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies.
The UN's relevance in addressing global crises is being questioned, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping skipping the gathering in favor of one-on-one talks with Trump in Washington. This has fueled debate about the UN's effectiveness. Compounding the crisis of morale and finance are questions about the next leader of the 80-year-old organization, as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completes his term at the end of 2026, with no clear frontrunner in the race to replace him.
The 15-member UN Security Council may hold high-level meetings on Ukraine, AI, and the Middle East, including talks with Arab leaders. More than a year into Trump's second term, the UN is "stuck in an open-ended crisis," according to Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. The US avoided losing its vote at the assembly by paying $725 million in contributions to the regular budget this week, but it still owes the organization over a billion dollars.
Artificial intelligence will be a major topic at the assembly, with Guterres proposing global governance of AI and warning that countries pushing its frontiers should set up "common guardrails" to avoid a "gigantic disaster." This has put him at odds with Trump, who dismissed AI risks as a "hoax." The UN created an advisory body on AI in 2023, with members including tech executives, government officials, and academics.
The Middle East will again be a focus of discussions, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to drive global inflation and destabilize the region. Recent gains by Houthi militants threaten shipping in the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could further spike energy prices. Guterres has said that the UN's envoy on Yemen is making a "huge effort" to advance talks, but peace talks remain stalled.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the assembly, as is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not be at the gathering in person, as the US denied him a visa. The General Assembly voted to allow Abbas to appear via video.
The conflict in Sudan and Russia's war in Ukraine will also be addressed, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov set to speak. Zelenskiy will likely seek to shore up Ukraine's position ahead of what is expected to be another tough winter. Guterres highlighted the impact of the war on civilians, food security, and energy prices, and called for a way to allow Ukrainian and Russian exports to take place safely.
Key points
- The UN General Assembly is taking place amid global conflicts and challenges.
- The organization is facing questions about its relevance and effectiveness.
- Artificial intelligence, the Middle East, and Ukraine are dominating the agenda.
