World Leaders Gather For High-Stakes U.N. Meeting
9 hours ago
World leaders are gathering in New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly, with major global conflicts, artificial intelligence, climate concerns and economic pressures expected to dominate discussions.
About 130 heads of state and government are expected to address the General Assembly beginning Tuesday, along with dozens of foreign ministers and other senior officials. The gathering brings representatives from the U.N.’s 193 member nations together for speeches and meetings on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday following U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening address. French President Emmanuel Macron is also scheduled to speak Tuesday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected to address the assembly Wednesday.
Conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar are expected to feature prominently throughout the week. Leaders will also confront concerns about disruptions to shipping and supply chains that have contributed to higher costs around the world.
Artificial intelligence is also moving to the forefront of the agenda. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a high-level meeting on AI for Wednesday amid growing international debate over potential safeguards and the national security risks posed by rapidly advancing technology.
Climate change, global inequality and possible reforms to the United Nations itself will also be discussed. The organization’s member nations have agreed to pursue reforms that include updating major institutions such as the Security Council, though significant disagreements remain over how those changes should be carried out.
The gathering comes as the United Nations faces questions about its ability to help resolve major international conflicts and about its own financial future. Guterres, whose second term ends at the end of the year, has called for greater international cooperation as governments confront what he describes as major global threats.
About 130 heads of state and government are expected to address the General Assembly beginning Tuesday, along with dozens of foreign ministers and other senior officials. The gathering brings representatives from the U.N.’s 193 member nations together for speeches and meetings on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday following U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening address. French President Emmanuel Macron is also scheduled to speak Tuesday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected to address the assembly Wednesday.
Conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar are expected to feature prominently throughout the week. Leaders will also confront concerns about disruptions to shipping and supply chains that have contributed to higher costs around the world.
Artificial intelligence is also moving to the forefront of the agenda. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a high-level meeting on AI for Wednesday amid growing international debate over potential safeguards and the national security risks posed by rapidly advancing technology.
Climate change, global inequality and possible reforms to the United Nations itself will also be discussed. The organization’s member nations have agreed to pursue reforms that include updating major institutions such as the Security Council, though significant disagreements remain over how those changes should be carried out.
The gathering comes as the United Nations faces questions about its ability to help resolve major international conflicts and about its own financial future. Guterres, whose second term ends at the end of the year, has called for greater international cooperation as governments confront what he describes as major global threats.
