CAMEROON – Amidst a backdrop of global wars and societal divisions, world leaders convene at the United Nations this week, grappling with the dual threats posed by runaway artificial intelligence and the harsh realities of climate change and soaring living costs. This annual assembly, held during a time of unprecedented crisis, aims to address significant global challenges that affect millions.
The U.N. General Assembly serves as a crucial forum where leaders discuss pressing issues, including ongoing conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, and Myanmar. The question looms: can these leaders take effective action to resolve these conflicts? Additionally, the assembly will tackle the urgent matter of climate change, which poses a severe threat to the planet’s future, alongside the widening inequalities within and among nations.
At 81 years old, the United Nations faces challenges related to its structure and power dynamics. The organization, originally shaped by the victors of World War II, is now viewed as needing reform to better reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. A reform package has been agreed upon by its 193 member states, which includes updating the U.N. Security Council, where the five permanent members— the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, and France—hold disproportionate influence due to their veto power.
As speculation grows about the future leadership of the U.N., current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ second term is set to conclude on December 31, and a clear successor has yet to emerge.
The significance of this meeting cannot be overstated. The U.N. remains the pivotal gathering place for its member nations, with approximately 130 heads of state and government expected to address the assembly, alongside numerous ministers. Notable speakers include U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, both set to speak on Tuesday following Guterres’ opening address. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will take the stage on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also scheduled to address the assembly, despite calls from New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani for his arrest due to his treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. In a notable absence, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not attend in person due to a visa denial from the U.S.; however, he will deliver a video address on the same day.
The United States is contractually obligated to allow all diplomats from member nations to attend U.N. meetings, as outlined in its hosting agreement. However, the absence of key leaders has raised eyebrows; notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting Trump in Washington instead of attending the U.N. gathering, sending a vice president in his stead. Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian President Narendra Modi will also not be present.
France’s U.N. ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, emphasized the importance of this high-level gathering, stating that it is “extremely critical” for leaders to support the U.N. as a platform for dialogue, especially during such polarized times. He remarked, “We believe in multilateralism, and we believe that the high-level week is the occasion for countries in the world to reaffirm that they prefer cooperation and dialogue to confrontation.”
This year has not been an easy one for the U.N., which has often found itself sidelined regarding its core responsibility of ensuring international peace and security. The organization’s financial stability has also been jeopardized by the U.S.’s failure to pay billions in outstanding dues. Despite these challenges, Richard Gowan, director of global issues and institutions at the International Crisis Group, noted that the U.N. is no longer in “freefall,” but it remains “stuck in an open-ended or permanent crisis.”
As the assembly unfolds, the looming presence of artificial intelligence (AI) will take center stage in discussions. Following alarming warnings from leaders of major AI corporations regarding the potential for technology to escape human control, Trump dismissed these concerns as “a hoax,” advocating for continued advancements to maintain U.S. dominance over China. The U.N. Security Council has responded by scheduling a high-level meeting on AI, underscoring the urgency of addressing this emerging issue.
For Guterres, this assembly will mark his final engagement with global leaders as Secretary-General. He has indicated that we are living in “an era of deep uncertainty,” emphasizing the necessity of international cooperation in confronting three existential threats currently facing the world.
Discussions will also extend to various pressing topics, including rising sea levels, educational funding, and gender equality. In addition to the formal assembly, numerous private meetings will occur in U.N. cubicles, hotels, diplomatic missions, and restaurants, facilitating vital discussions among nations.
Esther Brimmer, a senior fellow in global governance at the Council on Foreign Relations, highlighted the importance of in-person meetings, suggesting they foster ideation that can lead to effective implementation in the coming months. She acknowledged the complexities of the current global landscape, asserting that the situation in 2026 may be “much more serious and complex than in decades past,” but expressed hope based on the lessons learned about international cooperation over the years.
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Edith M. Lederer has covered international affairs for The Associated Press for more than a half century.
