New York: The high level general debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly opened in New York on Tuesday, bringing world leaders together as wars, artificial intelligence, climate change and pressure on the international system dominate the global agenda.
The general debate will run from September 22 to 26 and resume on September 28. Representatives from UN member states will address the Assembly during the annual gathering, with nearly 130 heads of state and government expected to attend the high level week in person.
US President Donald Trump is among the main leaders attending this year's meeting. He is scheduled to address the Assembly on Tuesday and is also due to hold a series of meetings with foreign leaders as the United States deals with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The war involving Iran and the wider crisis in the Middle East are expected to receive significant attention. The situation has also affected international shipping and energy security, making the conflict an issue beyond the region.
Iran has also made a conditional statement about the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian official told Reuters that Iran could reopen the waterway within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. The statement represents an Iranian position and does not mean that an agreement to reopen the strait has been reached.
The Gaza conflict and the wider Israeli Palestinian issue are also central to the diplomatic discussions. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to address the General Assembly through a prerecorded video after the United States denied him a visa. The General Assembly authorised the arrangement for his address.
The war in Ukraine remains another major issue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to address the Assembly, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also expected to participate. The conflict remains unresolved, with no comprehensive peace agreement in place.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as another major issue at this year's gathering. The debate is moving beyond questions about technology and economic growth to concerns about international security and the ability of governments to control increasingly powerful systems.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss artificial intelligence and international security on Wednesday. Chinese AI company DeepSeek is expected to be among those briefing the council. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and senior representatives from Anthropic are also expected to participate.
The discussion reflects growing international debate over how quickly AI should develop and what safeguards should be introduced. Governments are also considering how international cooperation can address the risks created by increasingly capable AI systems.
Climate change will also have a prominent place during the high level week. The UN has scheduled a meeting on climate action and a just transition for September 23, followed by a high level meeting on the threats posed by rising sea levels on September 24.
The United Nations itself is another important part of the discussions. The organisation is facing financial difficulties and is carrying out reforms aimed at reducing costs and changing the way it operates.
The United States recently paid $725 million towards the UN regular budget and another $102 million for peacekeeping. The payments meant the United States was no longer at risk of losing its voting rights in the General Assembly under Article 19 of the UN Charter.
The United States still owes more than $1.3 billion to the UN regular budget. The financial pressure comes as the organisation faces wider questions about its effectiveness, structure and ability to respond to international crises.
UN Secretary General António Guterres is in the final year of his second term, which ends on December 31, 2026. His successor will take over at a time when the organisation is facing major challenges involving security, climate change, technology and development.
The theme of the 81st session is "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all."
Alongside the major conflicts, leaders are expected to discuss sustainable development, pandemic preparedness, racism, sea level rise and international security.
The meeting is also taking place amid changing diplomatic relationships. Chinese President Xi Jinping is not attending the General Assembly in New York and is expected to hold talks with President Trump in Washington later this week.
The discussions will test whether countries can find areas of cooperation despite disagreements over wars, trade, technology, climate policy and the future role of international institutions.