UN General Assembly opens with world leaders amid conflicts, climate push

More than 140 world leaders are converging on New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, where the agenda ranges from ending regional wars to confronting the climate crisis and managing rapid advances in artificial intelligence. The gathering also marks the 80th anniversary of the U.N.'s founding, a milestone that comes amid questions about the body's relevance and efficiency as donor funding, humanitarian contributions and strategic priorities are being reevaluated by major powers. The week-long session underscores a fraught moment for a global order that has grown more fractured since the pandemic and as conflicts persist in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, while climate and technology issues rise in priority.

On Monday, a high-profile meeting chaired by France and Saudi Arabia sought to rally support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By late Monday several nations announced or confirmed recognition of a Palestinian state, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco; the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal followed earlier. Germany, Italy and Japan took part but did not recognize statehood. The United States and Israel boycotted the event, arguing that recognition without a broader peace deal would reward Hamas and complicate efforts to halt the fighting and free hostages. Despite the pledges, U.N. officials and many analysts warned the move would have limited impact on the ground, where Israel has continued a major assault in Gaza and expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long opposed Palestinian statehood and has warned of unilateral actions should the push gain momentum.

On Wednesday, a separate U.N. climate summit will bring more than 110 world leaders to the dais to urge stronger climate plans. Dozens of business leaders are present in New York for conferences on greener energy. U.N. officials say only 47 of the 195 nations have submitted five-year plans to curb carbon emissions, and they must be filed by the end of the month so experts can assess progress in advance of Brazil-hosted talks. China and the European Union are anticipated to present plans or outlines during the week as part of a broader push to accelerate decarbonization. The climate-focused portion of the General Assembly is designed to prod laggards and rally financiers to accelerate the transition away from coal, oil and natural gas. The summit underscores a central question of the gathering: whether nations can translate climate pledges into concrete action fast enough to avert the worst effects of climate change.

President Donald Trump will be the second leader to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, returning to the U.N. podium for the first time since taking office in his second term. His remarks are highly anticipated as U.S. allies and adversaries weigh how Washington intends to handle wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and whether further cuts to foreign aid are on the horizon. The administration's stance has already included pulling the United States from the World Health Organization and withdrawing from the U.N. Human Rights Council, along with a broad review of U.S. membership in hundreds of intergovernmental organizations under an “America First” framework. Trump told reporters last week that there are great hopes for the assembly, but that the process is not being well run.

Two other marquee speakers come from the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will take the podium as Tehran negotiates a delicate moment with world powers, with a 30-day window to avoid reimposing sanctions closing at the end of the week after France, Germany and Britain said Iran was not complying with its 2015 nuclear deal. European leaders have been in talks with Iran’s delegation in New York to avert a renewal of punitive measures that could further destabilize its economy as they seek to keep channels open with Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and other European counterparts in New York. A few hours later, Syria will debut its new head of state, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first to represent the country at the U.N. in nearly six decades. Al-Sharaa has spent nine months seeking to restore ties with Arab countries and the West, where officials were initially wary of his past ties with the al-Qaida-linked group that once operated in the region. His appearance will be watched closely by the United States, which previously designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group he once led, as a terrorist organization.

Beyond the podium, diplomacy will unfold largely behind closed doors as embassies host receptions and private dinners across Manhattan. U.N. officials say more than 1,600 bilateral meetings are scheduled inside the U.N. campus and at satellite venues, underscoring the assembly’s role as a hub for discreet diplomacy even as the institution grapples with funding strains and questions about its efficiency. As ever, the week’s outcomes will depend heavily on what happens after the speeches: concrete, verifiable steps and sustained commitments that can be translated into progress on the ground in Gaza, Ukraine and other flashpoints.

Observers say the gathering will test whether the United Nations can still marshal broad consensus on security, climate action, and governance in a world where relationships are shifting and funding pressures are intensifying. The clash of competing priorities among major powers suggests that the World Cup of diplomacy this week will be decided not by grand declarations alone, but by the persistence and flexibility of leaders to keep diplomacy moving after the applause fades.