As world leaders gather for this week’s annual United Nations meeting, they face an urgent challenge: to work together on pressing issues and modernize international institutions established post-World War II. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for a renewed commitment to multilateralism, highlighting that international challenges are evolving faster than the global community’s ability to address them.
The upcoming “Summit of the Future” aims to address these pressing needs, focusing on out-of-control geopolitical divisions, escalating conflicts, climate change, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence that lack regulatory frameworks. Guterres warned that the summit’s agenda was spurred by a “cold, hard fact”—the dire state of global cooperation.
The two-day summit precedes the high-level meeting of world leaders at the UN’s New York City headquarters. More than 130 presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs are expected to speak, with the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan likely dominating discussions. Richard Gowan, UN director for the International Crisis Group, noted a significant gap between the summit’s aspirations for cooperation and the UN’s current struggles to address these conflicts effectively.
US President Joe Biden is anticipated to make a notable appearance, focusing on the global fight to end war, particularly in regions heavily affected by conflict. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated, “The most vulnerable around the world are counting on us to make progress, to bring about a sense of hope for them.”
The summit comes at a critical time as the anniversary of Hamas’ attack in Israel approaches. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both scheduled to address the assembly, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will speak on multiple occasions about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Slovenia’s high-level meeting, themed “Leadership for Peace,” will challenge member nations to explore why the Security Council struggles to maintain international peace and how it can improve. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar pointed out the stark reality of a world riddled with conflict, stating that there are a record-high 100 million displaced individuals due to violence.
Global Divisions Complicate Solutions
Underlying these challenges is the deep division among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The US, along with Britain and France, supports Ukraine, while Russia maintains military and economic ties with China, which recently reiterated its support for national sovereignty without criticizing Russia’s actions.
The absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both sending foreign ministers instead, highlights the complexities of current global diplomacy. Guterres warned of the growing sense of impunity in international relations, where entities feel free to act without accountability. He stressed the urgent need to restore trust and cooperation to secure a more stable future.
The summit represents a critical opportunity for world leaders to shift from discussion to action, addressing the interconnected crises that threaten global stability. Failure to seize this moment could have dire consequences, as Guterres reminded the international community of the stakes involved. As leaders prepare to address these challenges, the world watches closely for signs of progress in the fight for peace and cooperation.
