United Nations: 81st General Assembly opens in New York

By Paola Simonetti The atmosphere is one of “an era of profound uncertainty,” in the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as the 81st United Nations General Assembly opens its debate on Tuesday, September 22. Heads of state and government from around the world are taking part, addressing international challenges ranging from security and geopolitical tensions to economic issues and artificial intelligence. Following the Secretary-General’s opening report on the state of the world, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will, as is tradition, be the first speaker, followed by US President Donald Trump. Other world leaders will then take the floor, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to meet with Trump today.

The ongoing conflicts The high-level debate will continue through September 26. The war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and the hostilities between the United States and Iran will be among the most prominent issues. The latter conflict has a significant impact on oil prices and disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. The conflict in Sudan is also on the agenda. Regarding the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, France has announced