United Nations 81st General Assembly Opens Doors in New York
World leaders have gathered in New York to discuss conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the global economy, and artificial intelligence.
The world's leading powers and heads of state have met at the United Nations headquarters in New York to discuss ongoing global crises amid deep uncertainty and critical agenda items such as artificial intelligence.
Main Topics on the General Assembly's Agenda
As the sessions of the 81st United Nations General Assembly began in New York as of Tuesday, global conflicts and economic challenges form the main agenda.
While Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the era as a period of deep uncertainty, leaders are putting security and geopolitical tensions on the table.
Speakers' Order and Schedule
Following Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' opening report, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will traditionally deliver the first speech.
Following the Brazilian leader, US President Donald Trump will take the podium, after which other world leaders such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver their addresses.
Critical Conflicts and Regional Tensions
High-level sessions will continue until September 26, and the latest situation in the war in Ukraine, which is entering its fifth year, will be evaluated.
Israel's military operations in Gaza and the US-Iran tension affecting oil prices and shipping routes are also among the most prominent issues.
International Diplomacy and Bilateral Talks
France announced that it is working on a new UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of navigation.
Within the scope of bilateral talks outside the General Assembly hall, UN Secretary-General Guterres and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet on September 24.
The Historic Agenda of Artificial Intelligence
For the first time in United Nations history, artificial intelligence has been brought to the top of the agenda in pursuit of a global agreement that will impose limits on its development and use.
Guterres positioned artificial intelligence as one of the three existential threats of our time, alongside the climate crisis and rising inequality.
Notable Figures Not Attending the Meeting
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stand out on the list of leaders not attending the summit.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is sending a delegate to the meeting, while he is expected to hold a direct meeting with Trump in Washington.