As world leaders converge for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, urgent global issues such as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, along with the rise of artificial intelligence, are set to dominate the discussions. Nearly 130 heads of state and government are participating in this high-level debate, amid growing concerns about the international system’s resilience.
U.S. President Donald Trump is among the key figures addressing the assembly. His schedule includes meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. French President Emmanuel Macron has already engaged in talks with President Trump about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the necessity of halting attacks on energy infrastructure and bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Macron plans to continue these discussions with Zelenskyy.
The ongoing Gaza conflict and efforts toward achieving a two-state solution are also expected to be prominent topics during the assembly. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin will participate in dedicated discussions aimed at supporting a permanent ceasefire and advancing a two-state resolution.
Iran’s delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, intends to leverage the UN platform to articulate its national interests and positions. Although U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated an openness to dialogue with the Iranian representatives, no formal meeting has been arranged. Rubio reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a central objective for the United States.