Starting Monday, September 21, New York will take center stage in global diplomacy, as heads of state and government from around the world gather at United Nations Headquarters for the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the General Assembly, at a time of intense geopolitical tensions, ongoing wars, and mounting pressure on the multilateral system.
The 81st Session is being presided over by Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh, with the central theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A UN That Delivers for All.” Leaders’ speeches will begin on Tuesday, September 22, and conclude on Monday, September 28.
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On the agenda are major international crises, with a focus on Iran and the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, the Palestinian issue, and Sudan, alongside climate change, the governance of artificial intelligence, preparedness for a potential pandemic, and the discussion on the future and reform of the United Nations.
This year’s General Assembly carries added significance as it is the last one during the term of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who will step down from his position as Secretary-General at the end of 2026, and the process of selecting his successor has already begun.
Trump Returns to the General Assembly Podium
Of particular interest is the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected to address the General Assembly on the morning of Tuesday, September 22. According to the established order of speakers, Brazil will speak first, followed by the United States as the host country of the Organization’s headquarters.
According to U.S. officials, Trump will hold bilateral meetings in New York with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and he will also meet with the leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
The U.S. President will also host a reception for the leaders visiting New York, on the sidelines of which a brief meeting is scheduled with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also attend the General Assembly in person, as Kyiv seeks to keep the war with Russia and efforts to find a diplomatic solution high on the international agenda. Zelenskyy is expected to use his visit to New York for a series of bilateral meetings and to highlight Ukraine’s positions on security, the course of the war, and the conditions for a potential peace process.
Russia is expected to be represented at the General Assembly by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Trump administration has decided not to allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York for the second consecutive year. Washington has expanded visa restrictions on officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, citing, among other things, the Palestinian leadership’s efforts to “internationalize” the conflict through actions before international courts. The Palestinian Authority rejects the U.S. justification and argues that the decision undermines diplomatic efforts.
Following the visa denial, the United Nations has provided for the Palestinian President’s remote participation so that he can address the General Assembly without being physically present in New York.
In contrast to the Palestinian delegation, the United States has decided to allow the Iranian delegation to travel to New York. The delegation includes the country’s President, Masoud Pezeskian, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Washington cites its obligations as the host country of the United Nations headquarters; however, the Iranian delegation will be smaller than in previous years and will be subject to strict restrictions. The movements of Iranian officials will be essentially limited to the UN headquarters, the Iranian Permanent Mission, the residence of the Iranian Permanent Representative, and JFK Airport, while restrictions have also been imposed on the purchase of luxury goods.
Enhanced Security Measures in New York
High-Level Week is one of the largest and most complex security operations carried out each year in the city.
Starting Sunday, September 20, thousands of police officers will be deployed around the UN headquarters and at other locations, supported by heavily armed teams, counterterrorism units, K-9 units, bomb squads, aerial assets, and specialized drone response teams. The operation is being carried out in collaboration with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and other federal and local agencies.
From September 20 through 26, a temporary flight restriction will be in effect within a 2-nautical-mile radius of the UN headquarters, including unauthorized drones. At the same time, extensive and rotating road closures, traffic restrictions, and hundreds of motorcades for foreign delegations are expected. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tice clarified that there is currently no specific or credible threat against the General Assembly or the city.
Beyond the major geopolitical crises, the week includes a series of high-level thematic meetings. On September 23, events will be held on the right to development, climate action, and a just transition; on September 24, a high-level meeting on sea-level rise; and on September 25, a meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. On September 28, a meeting will be held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action.
Source: CNA
