Nearly 130 heads of state and government, including Trump and Macron, are gathering in New York this Tuesday for the United Nations General Assembly’s High-level Week. This meeting of the 193-member body will test its ability to find common ground and bring countries together to tackle crises that increasingly transcend borders.
The gathering occurs against a backdrop of wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, where the U.N. has been pushed to the sidelines in efforts to end major conflicts. Along with these wars, world leaders are facing mounting economic and climate pressures, as well as rising fears over artificial intelligence.
Secretary General António Guterres is returning for his final General Assembly after serving two terms and is now stepping down. As the U.N. searches for his replacement, restoring trust in the organization and managing the pending change at the helm are expected to top the agenda amidst deep divisions and faltering diplomacy.