AP spotlights quieter voices at the UN General Assembly's fourth day

On the fourth day of the United Nations General Assembly's 2025 General Debate, The Associated Press spotlighted voices that rarely dominate the headlines, offering a curated cross-section of thoughts from leaders across regions about truth, peace, and global cooperation. The list spans governments from Barbados to Palau, Lesotho to South Korea, and many places in between, underscoring a common concern for how to navigate a more complex, rapidly changing world.

Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados, said, "When we lose shared truth, our communities, our countries, our global society, we lose our center of gravity. ... Slowly, over time, we descend into political tribalism. We develop alternative realities, and we are unable to understand each other ... then we grow suspicious of each other. In the absence of truth, trust deteriorates, and we see it all around us." Tshering Tobgay, prime minister of Bhutan, said, "Bhutan seeks to offer not only a spiritual event, but also a diplomatic and cultural contribution to world peace. For Bhutan, it is both a privilege and a prayer that in these turbulent times, the voice of a small Himalayan nation may help nurture the great cause of peace for all humanity." Ralph E. Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said, "Civilized discourse, tempered with a patience and a calm, has given way to a bellicosity of language shouted across continents and oceans designed, presumably, to satisfy nativist longings in the breasts of those who think that, despite their good fortune, relatively, they have been grievously wronged by some dark and hidden forces." Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, prime minister of Lesotho, said, "The apparent disregard of the United Nations General Assembly decisions by some of the powerful members undermines the credibility and effectiveness of the United Nations." Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece, said, "We don’t want our kids to share their intimate thoughts and feelings with an AI chatbot. ... Just as society once set firm rules for smoking, drinking and wearing a seatbelt, we must now confront today’s challenge with equal clarity. ... Digital tech is no different from any technology that needs to operate under health and safety principles."

Jessica Alupo, vice president of Uganda, said, "Refugee-hosting should not become a debt bargain. Uganda should not be expected to borrow money to care for a displaced population fleeing conflict." Mswati III, king of Eswatini, said, "Millions of lives have already been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. We therefore cannot afford to lose any more to conflict." Surangel Whipps Jr., president of Palau, said, "In Palau, we have a saying: ‘Ng di sengsongd e mrecherchii a klengoes’ —‘small twigs banded together can bring a pot to boil.’ This wisdom reminds us that even the smallest among us, when united and determined, can drive meaningful change." Mohammed B.S. Jallow, vice president of the Gambia, said, "Because they usually bear the brunt of unrests, women must always participate in discussions on conflict and peace."

Julius Maada Bio, president of Sierra Leone, said, "Small states are not inherently small. Our sovereignty is equal, and our responsibilities are the same. Leadership is not the loudest voice in the room. It is the clearest voice for justice." Don Felipe VI, king of Spain, said, "Rules shape behaviors to which the vast majority of international actors adhere. Even when they are breached, they provide a basis for accountability and enforcement. Rules are the voice of reason used in international relations. They are the best defense against the rule of the strongest. A world without rules is uncharted territory. A time without rules is returning to the Middle Ages." William Ruto, president of Kenya, said, "Institutions rarely fail because they lack vision or ideals. More often, they drift into irrelevance when they do not act and lose legitimacy. To remain relevant, institutions must be re-imagined, reformed, renewed, and aligned with emerging realities."

Alar Karis, president of Estonia, said, "Brutality prevails. We simply cannot let this go on." Zoran Milanović, president of Croatia, said, "Peace is more than silencing the guns. It requires preventing new wars and breaking the cycles of violence from the past." Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, president of Suriname, said, "The United Nations must be a genuine unity of nations…. We are all really better together." Gitanas Nausėda, president of Lithuania, said, "Our international order is being slowly eroded by the irresponsible actions of those who should know better. The world is turning into a much more dangerous place. We have seen this before." Abdullah II, king of Jordan, said, "Not for the first time, developments on the ground have made me question the worth and utility of words in capturing the magnitude of the crisis. Yet, not speaking about it would signal acceptance of the situation and abandonment of our humanity — and that, I will not do." Lee Jae Myung, president of South Korea, said, "K culture is connecting people all over the world … the success and spread of K culture prove that universal empathy is possible." Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, said, "We are fighting wars that cause death and destruction when we should be fighting poverty."