United Nations, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Around 140 world leaders and representatives from another 53 countries are gathering at the United Nations this week for the annual high-level General Assembly meeting, with wars, conflicts and a range of global crises dominating the agenda.
The high-level session will begin on Tuesday with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivering the traditional first national address, followed by US President Donald Trump.
The Gulf conflict, the war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza and the civil war in Sudan are expected to feature prominently during the proceedings. The challenges posed by artificial intelligence will also receive greater attention this year, alongside climate change, terrorism, global hunger and poverty.
While national addresses in the General Assembly chamber will provide the most visible part of the week, extensive diplomatic activity is expected to take place on the sidelines, including meetings at diplomatic missions, hotels and temporary meeting spaces at UN headquarters.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stressed the importance of these interactions in addressing global crises. Speaking to reporters, he said the high-level week should be used to facilitate meetings among leaders relevant to the crises facing the international community.
Guterres pointed to a meeting last year between the United States and several Muslim countries, saying it contributed to the Gaza peace plan. Trump, who has frequently criticised the UN, also said the formation of the Board of Peace for Gaza emerged from that meeting.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, president of the current General Assembly session, will preside over the proceedings. This year’s theme is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A UN that delivers for all.”
However, several major leaders will be absent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia will not attend. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will deliver India’s address to the General Assembly on Saturday.
Xi’s absence is notable as he is scheduled to travel to the US for a meeting with Trump in Washington on Thursday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will be among the prominent attendees and is scheduled to address the Assembly a day after Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend as his country enters the fifth year of Russia’s invasion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the Assembly on Thursday. Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas, however, will not attend after the US denied him a visa.
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