Post by : Sameer Farouq

Leaders Prepare for Big Talks at the United Nations

The world’s biggest yearly diplomatic meeting is about to begin in New York. Leaders, ministers, and diplomats from nearly every country will gather at the United Nations (UN) for the General Assembly session.

This year, the event is especially important because the world is facing many serious problems—wars, humanitarian crises, climate change, women’s rights, and tensions between countries.

The theme chosen for this year is “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” But as always, leaders are expected to focus not only on the theme but also on the urgent issues their countries are facing.

Who Gets to Speak and in What Order?

The UN was created in 1945 with 51 member states. Today, it has 193 members. Alongside these, leaders from two observer states—the Holy See (Vatican) and the State of Palestine—as well as the European Union, can also speak.

There is a long-standing tradition at the UN. Brazil always speaks first. This tradition started because, in the early years of the UN, Brazil volunteered to speak first when no other country wanted to. The United States, as the host nation of the UN headquarters in New York, always speaks second.

After that, the speaking order is decided based on the rank of the leader and the order in which they requested to speak. Heads of state get priority, followed by deputy leaders, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and finally lower-level officials.

How Long Do Leaders Speak?

Leaders are asked to keep their speeches within 15 minutes, but many go much longer. Some famous examples include Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who spoke for more than 4 hours in 1960, and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who spoke for 1.5 hours in 2009.

What Topics Will Be Discussed?

Even though each session has a theme, leaders usually focus on the problems affecting their own countries and regions. This year, several global crises are expected to dominate discussions.

Gaza Crisis

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is entering its second year. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening, with famine already reported.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak next Friday. He is facing charges at the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies.

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not attend in person because the U.S. has denied him a visa. Instead, he may appear via video message.

Ukraine War

The war between Russia and Ukraine has lasted for more than three years.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address the assembly on Wednesday to seek more global support.

• Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will speak on Saturday.

• The UN Security Council will also hold a special meeting on Ukraine, where the role of the U.S. will be closely watched.

Many countries are waiting to see if U.S. President Donald Trump announces new sanctions or other steps to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace talks.

Iran’s Nuclear Program

Iran is trying to avoid the return of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program.

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are expected to be in New York for talks.

• Key decisions may be made before September 28, when sanctions could return.

Syria’s New Leader

For the first time, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appear at the UN. His group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew President Bashar al-Assad last December after 13 years of civil war.

Although HTS was once linked to al-Qaeda, it later cut ties. Sharaa and the group remain under UN sanctions, but he has been allowed to travel to New York for this meeting.

Climate Change

Small island nations and countries most affected by rising temperatures are expected to demand urgent climate action. Many leaders want stronger commitments to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

Women’s Rights

Before the main speeches begin, leaders will hold a special meeting on women’s rights, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Conference, which declared: “Women’s rights are human rights.”

Leaders are expected to express disappointment at the slow progress and rising attacks on women’s rights worldwide.

Sudan’s Civil War

Sudan is facing what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The ongoing war between the army and paramilitary forces has displaced millions.

Countries like the U.S., UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are pushing for a three-month truce that could lead to a permanent ceasefire.

U.S. and Venezuela Tensions

Relations between the U.S. and Venezuela are worsening. Recently, the U.S. built up its naval presence in the Caribbean, and Venezuela accused Washington of trying to remove President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil will likely bring up the issue in his speech on Saturday.

Race for Next UN Secretary-General

Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres will finish his term in 2026. World leaders are already discussing who could be his successor.

Since the choice depends on agreement among the five permanent members of the Security Council—China, Russia, the U.S., Britain, and France—many conversations are happening behind closed doors.

Why This General Assembly Matters

The annual UN General Assembly is not just about speeches. It is also about private talks, sideline meetings, and behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Many of the world’s biggest decisions and deals begin at these gatherings.

This year, the stakes are higher than ever. From Gaza to Ukraine, from climate change to women’s rights, the UN stage will once again be the world’s most important platform for diplomacy.

What Ordinary People Hope For

While politicians debate, ordinary people around the world hope for peace, stability, and solutions to daily struggles. For families in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, survival is the biggest priority. For island nations, climate change is about protecting homes and futures. For women everywhere, equality and safety remain a dream yet to be fulfilled.

The United Nations cannot solve every problem, but for many, it remains the only place where the world comes together to talk, argue, and sometimes agree on solutions.