United Nations General Assembly to convene amid global geopolitical tensions

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly will convene in New York from September 22 to 28, focusing on the theme ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: United Nations that deliver for all’. The high-level week arrives amidst significant geopolitical tensions and multiple armed conflicts.

Key diplomatic developments include the expected participation of Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez, which would mark the first in-person address by a Venezuelan head of state to the Assembly since 2018. An informal meeting between Rodríguez and U.S. President Donald Trump is also anticipated to discuss energy cooperation and international organized crime.

Several major world leaders will not attend in person. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while Chinese President Xi Jinping will delegate representation to Vice President Han Zheng to prioritize a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. Other critical agenda items include the conflict in Eastern Europe and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.