UN General Assembly Day Two Highlights: Sovereignty, Rules, and Reform From Leaders Around the World

UNITED NATIONS — Leaders on the second day of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly General Debate highlighted a mix of enduring principles and urgent calls for action. In remarks that foregrounded sovereignty, justice, and principled leadership, 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.” Bio’s words framed a broader message that influence in world affairs should be measured by justice, not volume.

On the same stage, Spain's King Felipe VI argued that rules guide behavior and that a world without rules would be an uncharted territory. “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.” — Don Felipe VI, king of Spain.

Kenya’s President William Ruto urged real reform of international institutions, warning that without adaptation they risk irrelevance. “Institutions rarely fail because they lack vision or ideals. More often, they drift into irrelevance when they do not adapt, when they hesitate to act and when they lose legitimacy. To remain relevant, institutions must be re-imagined, reformed, renewed, and aligned with emerging realities.” — William Ruto, president of Kenya.

Estonia’s Alar Karis pressed for action against brutality, saying, “Brutality prevails. We simply cannot let this go on.” — Alar Karis, president of Estonia. Croatia’s Zoran Milanović added that peace requires more than silencing guns, emphasizing the need to prevent new wars and break cycles of violence from the past. — Zoran Milanović, president of Croatia.

The remarks come as the Associated Press’ spotlight on voices that often go unheard in headline coverage underscores a broader, year-to-year pattern at the General Assembly: a chorus of perspectives from capitals large and small that collectively shape the global agenda. The AP series “They said it: Leaders at the UN, in their own words” highlights the diversity of priorities present on the floor, from calls for a rules-based order and accountability to appeals for reform, funding, and renewed efforts to prevent violence and conflict.

In that context, the second day’s speakers emphasized how sovereignty and legitimacy intersect with global norms. Bio’s call for equal sovereignty reinforced the position of small states that international law should protect their rights and responsibilities just as it does those of larger powers. Felipe VI’s insistence on the rule of law framed rules as a pragmatic safeguard against the dominance of any single actor, while Ruto’s critique of institutional inertia echoed a common theme across regions: institutions must evolve to reflect new realities, or risk losing public trust and effectiveness.

As the General Assembly session continues, leaders are expected to address a broad agenda that spans armed conflict, climate change, health security, migration, and humanitarian crises. The Wednesday voices—emphasizing justice, accountability, reform, and peacebuilding—illustrate the timeless trade-offs of multilateral diplomacy: how to balance national interests with the collective good in an increasingly interconnected world.