What to Know About the UN General Assembly
World leaders are descending on New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, climate change, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence expected to dominate the annual diplomatic gathering.
TL;DR
- The 81st UN General Assembly's high-level debate runs from Tuesday to Monday, Sept. 28, with nearly 130 heads of state and government attending.
- Key topics include wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, climate change, and artificial intelligence.
- Scheduled speakers include US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
- US denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, who will attend virtually.
- Notable absentees include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Discussions will focus on conflicts in Iran, Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, alongside AI dangers and climate action, including transitioning to cleaner energy.
- Leaders will engage in numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines.
- Trump is expected to hold busy schedules, including meetings with Zelensky, leaders from the UK, Japan, Iraq, and Venezuela, and a gathering with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders.
- The UN General Assembly's role as a primary diplomatic avenue has diminished, with leaders increasingly opting for direct visits to the White House, though side meetings remain crucial.