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World leaders are gathering in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, where discussions are expected to focus on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as the risks associated with artificial intelligence. Nearly 130 heads of state are attending the summit as the organization faces questions regarding its relevance and financial stability.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the assembly for the second consecutive year. While the United States recently paid 725 million dollars toward its regular budget contributions to avoid losing its vote, the country still owes more than one billion dollars and continues to advocate for organizational reforms and budget cuts.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping will not attend the assembly, opting instead to hold bilateral talks with President Trump in Washington on Thursday. Meanwhile, the UN is preparing for a leadership transition, as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to complete his term at the end of 2026 with no clear successor identified.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a primary agenda item. Secretary-General Guterres has called for the establishment of global guardrails to manage the technology, citing concerns from industry leaders regarding potential risks. President Trump has publicly dismissed these concerns, characterizing them as a hoax.
The Middle East remains a central point of tension. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the assembly on Thursday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will participate via video link after being denied a visa by the United States. The UN Security Council is also expected to hold high-level meetings regarding the conflict in Sudan.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, both President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are slated to speak. The Security Council has remained largely deadlocked on the issue due to Russia’s veto power. Secretary-General Guterres emphasized the need to address the impact of the conflict on global food and energy security, specifically calling for the safe export of food and fertilizers through the Black Sea.
Article and image source: al-monitor.com
