World leaders are set to begin their annual gathering at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday amidst deepening global tensions, marked by major conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, as well as the looming risk of broader war in the Middle East.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previewed his upcoming “State of the World” speech at Sunday’s “Summit of the Future.” He warned that the world is veering off course and stressed the need for tough choices to restore order. Guterres highlighted ongoing and multiplying conflicts in regions like the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, where no end is in sight. He also pointed to a global security system threatened by political divisions, nuclear threats, and the development of new warfare technology.
Additionally, Guterres underscored stark inequalities and the absence of an effective global response to emerging existential risks, while also emphasizing the catastrophic effects of climate change.
One key moment of the Assembly will be the likely final major address by U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been a fixture on the world stage for decades. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield outlined the country's primary focus: ending the “scourge of war.” She lamented that around 2 billion people live in areas affected by conflict but expressed hope for progress and change for the world’s most vulnerable populations.
On the opening day, speeches will be delivered by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian accused Israel of provoking a larger Middle Eastern conflict, blaming it for recent deadly incidents in Lebanon and the assassination of Hamas’ political leader in Tehran after Pezeshkian’s inauguration. He expressed that Iran does not seek conflict but asserted that Israel is pushing the region towards instability, referring to Iran's support for both Hamas and Hezbollah militants.
David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, recalled U.S. President Harry Truman’s post-World War II plea to replace “might makes right” with “right makes might,” an idea enshrined in the U.N. Charter. Miliband reflected on the current global landscape, where power often overrules justice, citing Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine as examples. He challenged world leaders to strengthen the core principles of the U.N. Charter as it approaches its 80th anniversary.
The annual meeting, which runs until September 30, follows the two-day “Summit of the Future,” where leaders adopted the “Pact for the Future,” a 42-page blueprint aimed at addressing 21st-century challenges such as conflict, climate change, artificial intelligence, and women's rights. Guterres emphasized that the pact serves as a first step, but action is required to turn agreements into meaningful change for the world’s 8 billion people.
While last year’s gathering was dominated by Ukraine, this year’s focus will likely shift towards the escalating conflict in Gaza, especially as the anniversary of Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel nears. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to address the Assembly on Thursday. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak twice: first at a Security Council meeting on Tuesday and later at the General Assembly on Wednesday.