World Leaders Gather as UN General Assembly Opens

World leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday for the opening of the 81st General Assembly General Debate, with wars, humanitarian crises, climate change and the future of international cooperation as topics of discussion.

Belize is scheduled to speak on September 26.

The debate is running from September 22 to 26 and September 28, bringing together world leaders under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres used his address to urge countries to strengthen international cooperation, warning that “the fault lines in our world are widening.”

U.S. President Donald Trump used his address to defend the United States’ military campaign against Iran, saying, “I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump said the United States had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and warned that the conflict could escalate if a deal is not reached. He also called on other countries to isolate Iran economically.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised the United Nations’ handling of global conflicts, saying the organisation is failing in one of its most important missions, to free humanity from war.

“The UN is failing in one of its most important missions, which is to free humanity from the scourge of war,” Lula said.

The General Debate continues throughout the week, with climate action, sea-level rise, economic development, technology and humanitarian crises also on the agenda.