The Kabul Tribune (KT) — World leaders will gather in New York next week for a U.N. General Assembly dominated by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood, nuclear tensions with Iran — and the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the rostrum.
“We are gathering in turbulent —
even uncharted — waters,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said Tuesday.
“Geopolitical divides widening. Conflicts raging. Impunity escalating. Our
planet overheating. And international cooperation is straining under pressures
unseen in our lifetimes.”
Nearly 150 heads of state and
government, along with dozens of ministers, will deliver speeches during the
annual six-day session of the 193-member body.
Headlining this year’s 80th General
Assembly is Trump, who has long had a wary relationship with the United
Nations. During his first term, he slashed U.S. funding, halted contributions
to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, pulled Washington out of UNESCO and the
Human Rights Council, and announced plans to exit the Paris climate accord and
the World Health Organization.
Now eight months into his second
term, Trump has imposed deep cuts in foreign aid that critics say have fueled
humanitarian crises worldwide. His return has raised questions about the U.N.’s
future, even as Guterres pushes cost-cutting measures and efficiency reforms.
“He enjoys the General Assembly. He
enjoys the attention of other leaders,” said Richard Gowan, U.N. director at
the International Crisis Group. “My suspicion is he is going to use his
appearance to boast about his many achievements and perhaps once again make the
case he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump, who will address the assembly
Tuesday, has described the U.N. as having “great potential” but insists it must
“get its act together.” He has accused the body of failing to support his peace
efforts in global conflicts.
“The U.N. has very strong efforts in
peace mediation … but we have no carrots and no sticks,” Guterres said, noting
the Security Council’s paralysis on Gaza and Ukraine due to U.S. and Russian
veto power. “The United States has carrots and sticks. So in some situations,
if you are able to combine the two, I think we can have a very effective way to
make sure that some peace process at least can lead to a successful result.”
Guterres and Trump are expected to
meet formally for the first time since Trump returned to office in January. The
U.N. chief said he has scheduled more than 150 bilateral meetings next week,
calling the annual gathering “the World Cup of diplomacy.”
