World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent

Nearly 130 heads of state have converged in New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. The post-World War II international order faces unprecedented strain. The global body struggles to maintain relevance amid intense political and financial pressures.

President Donald Trump returns to the UN rostrum for the second consecutive year. His administration has slashed American financial contributions and withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies.

President Xi Jinping

Pool / via Japan Times

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is skipping New York to hold direct talks with Trump in Washington. This bilateral detour further intensifies questions about the diplomatic utility of the UN.

Morale and finance issues are compounded by an upcoming leadership transition. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concludes his term at the end of 2026. No clear frontrunner has emerged to replace him at the helm of the 80-year-old institution.

The United States avoided losing its General Assembly vote by paying $725 million toward the regular budget. However, Washington still owes more than a billion dollars while demanding deep institutional cuts and reforms.

Experts view the structural paralysis with grave concern. As Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group noted, “we would no longer say that the UN is in freefall, but we would say that it’s stuck in an open-ended crisis.” Gowan added that “the UN may not be in emergency care like it was last year, but it seems to be trapped in a trauma center for the foreseeable future.”

**Artificial Intelligence Governance And Safety Divisions **

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have forced technology policy onto the main diplomatic agenda. Major industry leaders recently urged a coordinated slowdown in development. They warned that autonomous software could soon improve independently and slip past human control.

Secretary-General Guterres emphasized that nations spearheading technological frontiers must establish guardrails. Countries pushing frontiers should set up “common guardrails in order to avoid this race to the bottom that could lead one day to a gigantic disaster at the global level.”

Guterres has long advocated for global AI oversight. The UN established an advisory body featuring tech executives, academics, and government officials in 2023.

These warnings have triggered sharp disagreements with Washington. President Trump dismissed AI safety concerns as a “hoax”. He claimed there is a “sick conspiracy” against the technology and argued that China would benefit if development faces artificial deceleration.

**Middle East Conflict And Regional Escalation **

The Middle East remains a dominant focus as the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran fuels global inflation and regional instability. Recent military gains by Houthi militants threaten shipping lanes in the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These maritime disruptions threaten to drive energy prices significantly higher.

Diplomatic solutions remain elusive as Washington and Tehran continue exchanging strikes. President Trump has warned of a potential major military escalation.

Secretary-General Guterres underscored the limits of armed intervention in Yemen. He stated, “It’s very difficult to have a military solution for that problem, and the experience of fighting in Yemen demonstrated how complicated it is to have successful interventions.” He noted that the UN Yemen envoy is pursuing a massive diplomatic push.

High-level addresses will feature key regional players. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to speak on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the assembly on Thursday. Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, charges that Israel firmly denies.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will miss the summit for the second consecutive year after the US denied him a visa. The General Assembly subsequently voted to permit Abbas to address the body via video link. Diplomats expect sidelines discussions regarding the civil conflict in Sudan, though a breakthrough appears unlikely.

**Ukraine War And Global Food Security **

Russia’s four-year-old war in Ukraine remains a central point of contention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are both scheduled to address the assembly. Zelenskiy aims to reinforce international backing as Ukraine prepares for another harsh winter.

The UN Security Council remains unable to mandate an end to the conflict. Russia retains a permanent member veto that blocks substantive council action. President Trump has expressed frustration over his inability to swiftly broker a peace settlement, which he initially declared a core priority. Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, though scheduling for a meeting with Zelenskiy in New York remains unconfirmed.

Beyond direct combat losses, Guterres warned that the conflict severely threatens global civilian livelihoods, energy markets, and food supplies.

Addressing maritime corridors, Guterres stressed the need for international cooperation. “The effective blockade existing in the Black Sea is creating enormous problems that add to the problems generated by the Middle East crisis, and I think it would be very important to find a way to allow Ukrainian exports and Russian exports of food, fertilizers and energy to take place in a safe way through the Black Sea.”

**Pathways For Multilateral Resilience And Future Stability **

As diplomats navigate overlapping geopolitical flashpoints and structural friction, the long-term efficacy of international institutions will depend on sustained compromise and enforceable cooperative frameworks.

**African Priorities And The Push For Global Governance Reform **

For audiences across Ghana and the broader African continent, this year’s UN General Assembly serves as a critical platform to press for structural overhaul.

African leaders are amplifying long-standing demands to reform the UN Security Council and transform international financial architectures that govern debt and capital costs.

Continental voices emphasize that sustainable global security requires equitable representation, climate adaptation financing, and regional economic integration through frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Ghanaian Leadership And High-Level Advocacy In New York

President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in New York to join the 81st United Nations General Assembly. He will host a high-level side event on the Accra Reset under the theme “Full Circle: Making Global Development Work Again”.

He is also scheduled to host a dedicated session advancing international cooperation for the return and restitution of cultural properties and heritage.

President Mahama will deliver Ghana’s official statement during the UN General Debate, alongside high-level diplomatic engagements with world leaders and the UN Secretary-General.

His delegation includes First Lady Lordina Dramani Mahama, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Cabinet ministers, and senior presidential officials.

He will conclude his mission by hosting a Town Hall meeting with the Ghanaian diaspora in New York to discuss national development.

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