Full Breakdown
UN General Assembly Convenes Amid Wars, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fears, and Funding Strain
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: 81st UN General Assembly Highlights Global Crises
World leaders gathered in New York from September 22-28 for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. About 130 heads of state and government, representing the UN’s 193 member nations, addressed wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar; the accelerating threat of artificial intelligence; climate change; and the UN’s own institutional reform and leadership succession.
Background & Context
The United Nations, founded 81 years ago, still operates under a structure in which the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France wield veto power on the Security Council. Member states have approved a broad reform package aimed at updating key institutions, but implementation remains uncertain. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in the final weeks of his second five-year term, and no clear successor has emerged. The organization continues to grapple with financial strain: the United States paid $725 million toward the regular budget for 2026, yet it still owes more than $1 billion and has pressed for further cuts.
Key Figures
- Antonio Guterres — UN Secretary-General, delivering his final opening address.
- Donald Trump — U.S. President, speaking on September 22.
- Emmanuel Macron — President of France, speaking on September 22.
- Benjamin Netanyahu — Israeli Prime Minister, addressing by video.
- Masoud Pezeshkian — President of Iran, speaking on September 23.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy — President of Ukraine, speaking on September 23.
- Jerome Bonnafont — France’s UN ambassador, advocating multilateralism.
- Richard Gowan — International Crisis Group program director, commenting on UN health.
- Esther Brimmer — CFR senior fellow, noting hope for cooperation.
- Mark Malloch-Brown — Former UN deputy secretary-general, observing public sentiment.
- Maya Ungar — Senior policy adviser, Conflict Armament Research, referencing past Gaza talks.
- Matt — Resident near the UN headquarters, describing local demonstrations.
Data & Statistics
- 130 heads of state and government expected to speak.
- 193 UN member nations.
- $725 million paid by the United States for the 2026 regular budget.
- > $1 billion still owed by the United States.
- 81 years since the UN’s founding.
- AI added to the Security Council agenda for a high-level meeting on September 23.
Official Statements & Responses
- Guterres warned that uncontrolled AI development, climate change and widening inequality constitute “existential threats” and urged nations to adopt “common guardrails.”
- The United States fulfilled its host-nation obligation by making the $725 million contribution, allowing all diplomats to attend.
- APC executive director Chat Garcia Ramilo announced that the AI for Good Commission will bring civil-society perspectives to AI governance discussions at the assembly.
On-the-Ground Reports
Thousands of NYPD officers, including K-9 teams, bomb squads and drone operators, were deployed around the UN headquarters for the week. Local resident Matt observed, “They like to demonstrate their pride, their cultures, their beliefs. I think just as long as everything can stay peaceful, it's OK.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The identity of the next UN Secretary-General remains unclear; seven candidates have been mentioned, but no front-runner has been identified.