The United Nations General Assembly’s big annual gathering is kicking off with Palestine stealing the spotlight. World leaders from presidents to prime ministers usually take center stage to share their visions, but this year, the push for Palestinian statehood is grabbing all the attention amid ongoing global conflicts like the war in Ukraine.
On Monday, a special summit on Palestinian statehood will set the tone, just before the high-level meetings start Tuesday. The UN itself marks its 80th anniversary this year, facing tough times including budget woes and fading trust— a recent global poll found only 58 percent of people trust the organization.
Western nations are stepping up on Palestine. Britain, a key Security Council member, along with other Western countries, announced recognition of Palestinian statehood on Sunday. France, teaming up with Saudi Arabia to host the summit, plans to follow suit on Monday. That would bring the total to 153 out of 193 UN members recognizing Palestine, including India.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, however, won’t join in person. The US denied him a visa to come to New York, so the General Assembly voted Friday to let him speak via video link. The vote was lopsided: 145 countries in favor, the US and Israel plus three others against, and six abstaining. This strong support highlights the growing backing for Palestine as it battles an existential crisis from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, where around 75,000 people—mostly civilians—have died. Adding to the tension, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently vowed to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
While the recognition push looks promising, it might stay mostly symbolic. The US is likely to block any UN membership bid with its veto power, and Netanyahu shows no signs of budging.
Beneath the headlines, the UN grapples with its own future. US President Donald Trump has threatened to slash funding, fueling a financial crisis and deepening divisions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants leaders to rally around his “UN80” initiative, titled “Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver.” It calls for a leaner UN focused on three pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. The session’s theme echoes this: “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”
Not everyone is showing up, though. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and China’s Xi Jinping will skip the event. By tradition, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opens the speeches—and he just made it after US visa hurdles tangled his delegation amid rising global tensions.
All eyes turn to Trump, who speaks right after Lula. His address could drop hints on his plans, especially after shaking up the world with trade wars and bold power moves.
Outside the main hall, where leaders air grievances, dreams, and partnership offers, the real action happens in side meetings. These talks gain extra weight as countries plot their course through the Trump era. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar jumped into diplomacy Sunday, meeting Philippines Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro. She later shared on X that the chat strengthens their strategic partnership, boosting ties in politics, defense, security, and maritime issues.
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