New York: The 81st United Nations General Assembly ended its high level General Debate on Monday with governments calling for stronger international cooperation and reforms to make global institutions more representative and effective. However, major disagreements over the structure of the UN Security Council and its veto system remain unresolved.
A total of 194 delegations addressed the six day General Debate, including 113 heads of state and government. The discussions focused on conflicts, climate change, artificial intelligence, inequality and the future of multilateral cooperation.
The debate was held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all”. The theme reflected growing concern among member states about the ability of international institutions to respond effectively to major global challenges.
At the close of the debate on September 28, General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman said many governments had referred to a crisis of institutional trust. He said trust in multilateral institutions needed to be supported by consistency between words and actions, respect for international law, fulfilment of commitments, transparency and accountability.
UN Secretary General AntĂłnio Guterres also used his final General Assembly address before the end of his term to call for stronger international cooperation. His second term as secretary general ends on December 31, 2026.
Guterres warned that divisions among countries were deepening and highlighted war, inequality, climate change and artificial intelligence as major tests for the international system. He also called for reform of the Security Council, saying the continued absence of permanent African representation was unjustifiable.
Security Council reform was one of the major issues raised during the General Debate. The Council has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Several governments called for a larger and more representative Council, particularly greater representation for Africa and other regions that do not have permanent seats. However, the General Debate did not produce an agreement on how the Council should be expanded or how the veto system should change.
Countries also differed over the future of the veto. Some governments have called for restrictions on its use, while Russia has supported adding new permanent members while retaining the veto.
The debate also highlighted pressure on the United Nations from financial and political challenges. The organisation is facing financial difficulties as it seeks to maintain its operations and programmes while dealing with funding shortages and unpaid contributions.
The United States has also taken a more critical approach towards parts of the multilateral system under President Donald Trump. Trump has promoted an America First approach and questioned the value of some international organisations and programmes.
At the same time, the General Assembly remained an important meeting place for international diplomacy. Governments held numerous bilateral meetings alongside the formal debate, showing that the United Nations continues to provide a major forum for countries to discuss conflicts and other global issues.
The debate took place as several major international crises continued, including the war between the United States and Iran. Diplomatic efforts over the conflict continued through separate contacts involving mediators, while wider disputes over sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme remained unresolved.
The discussions also showed that countries continue to see international cooperation as necessary for challenges that cannot easily be addressed by individual governments. Climate change, artificial intelligence, conflicts and economic inequality were repeatedly raised during the General Debate.
However, the discussions also exposed differences over how much power international institutions should have and how global decision making should be reformed.
The General Assembly ended without a major agreement to change the UN's basic power structure. The calls for reform, particularly of the Security Council, are expected to remain part of the wider debate over the future of the United Nations and international cooperation.