World leaders gathering at the United Nations headquarters in New York are navigating an era of deep uncertainty marked by split-screen diplomacy, where major powers bypass traditional multilateral halls while regional conflicts persist. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres opens the high-level week with urgent calls for de-escalation in the Middle East and a ceasefire in Ukraine, even as diplomatic watchers lower expectations for immediate breakthroughs.
Diplomatic Tensions Surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to address the world body on Wednesday, arriving nearly seven months after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February, according to the U.S. State Department. The State Department notes that the Iranian delegation will be smaller this year because the U.S. did not give everyone visas. Furthermore, the delegation faces strict geographic and purchasing limits enforced by diplomatic security agents in New York. While U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has attempted to negotiate an opening of the Strait of Hormuz for fertilizer shipments, those diplomatic efforts have not gained traction.
Ukraine War and Security Council Stalemate
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to speak on Wednesday as European allies rally support heading into another winter of war, based on the official speakers list. Russia continues to use its veto power on the U.N. Security Council to block any meaningful role for the international body in resolving the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not attended the General Assembly in over a decade. Instead, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is slated to address the assembly on Sept. 26 and meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines earlier in the week.
Did you know?
Brazil speaks first at the United Nations General Assembly by tradition, opening the high-level debate immediately following the secretary-general’s remarks.
Israel-Palestine and Visa Disputes at the UN
For the second year in a row, the Trump administration denied a visa to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, prompting the U.N. General Assembly to vote overwhelmingly to criticize the move and permit Abbas to deliver a prerecorded video statement on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use his 15-minute address later Thursday to defend his record on Iran and Gaza amidst an ongoing election campaign, according to Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he has no plans to attend planned protests against Netanyahu, despite earlier suggestions that the Israeli leader should be arrested under an International Criminal Court warrant—a move dismissed by the Trump administration.
Split-Screen Diplomacy and Absent World Leaders
Approximately 120 leaders and senior representatives are attending the U.N. events, but notable absences include the leaders of India, Germany, and South Africa, who are sending senior representatives instead. China’s Xi Jinping will also skip the in-person gathering, opting for a video address similar to his approach during the 2020 COVID pandemic, even though he is expected at the White House on Thursday. “You’re going to have the leaders of China in the U.S. meeting in Washington and then, on the other hand, you’re going to have leaders of smaller countries continuing to give speeches in a pretty empty General Assembly hall,” said Richard Gowan, director for global issues and institutions at the International Crisis Group, noting that the setup highlights where global power truly lies.
Venezuela Leadership Transition and Oil Deals
Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president now serving as interim leader of Venezuela, will make her U.N. debut Thursday afternoon, just 8.5 months after the U.S. military ousted and arrested Nicolás Maduro. Maduro remains in U.S. custody near U.N. headquarters, while President Trump plans to meet with Rodríguez on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Tuesday, according to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz. Rodríguez recently announced a major oil deal giving the Pentagon a stake in Venezuelan oil fields. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the arrangement as a unique opportunity that will produce revenues eventually returning to authorities in a democratically elected Venezuela, though President Trump maintains the country is not yet ready for elections.
The Race to Replace UN Secretary-General Guterres
The U.N. Security Council has held three straw polls to replace outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term ends in December, though no consensus has been reached. Front-runners include Costa Rica’s former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan and Guyana’s former Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett. Delegations are heavily encouraging a Latin American candidate—following traditional regional rotation—and pushing for the first woman to lead the organization. Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet dropped out over the weekend, leaving seven candidates in the running. The U.S. State Department stated that the next secretary-general must return the U.N. to basics and publicly commit to required changes, maintaining leverage through its Security Council veto power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who opens the UN General Assembly high-level week?
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres delivers the opening remarks, followed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, adhering to longstanding tradition.
Why is Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressing the UN via video?
The Trump administration denied a visa for Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for the second year in a row, leading the General Assembly to vote overwhelmingly to allow him to speak via a prerecorded video.
Who is representing Venezuela at the UN following Nicolás Maduro’s arrest?
Interim leader and former vice president Delcy Rodríguez is making her U.N. debut following the U.S. military operation that ousted Maduro.
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