This week, as global leaders gather in New York City for the annual United Nations General Assembly, the organization marks its 80th anniversary. However, the atmosphere is anything but festive. Instead, it’s overshadowed by relentless wars across the globe, a looming financial crunch, and persistent doubts about the UN’s continued relevance in today’s turbulent world.
Each year, UN officials and world leaders convene with grand aspirations, presenting ambitious proposals and intricate blueprints for global change. Yet, despite these efforts, concrete progress often proves frustratingly hard to achieve.
The conflict in Ukraine has stretched beyond three years, while the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza approaches its second anniversary. Meanwhile, critical global objectives like sustainable development and effective climate change solutions remain distant. Even the UN’s vital humanitarian aid efforts – a sphere where it has historically demonstrated leadership and impact – are now jeopardized by significant budget cuts, diminishing donor support, and staffing reductions.
Richard Gowan, UN director for the International Crisis Group, starkly observed, ‘We can actually say we are in an organization that is in sort of a free fall.’ He suggested that while the upcoming week won’t provide definitive solutions to the UN’s myriad issues, it will likely underscore just how challenging the current global landscape truly is.
Nevertheless, this annual assembly offers a significant platform. Alongside President Trump, over 140 heads of state, top officials, and delegations from nations including Russia, Ukraine, China, Iran, Syria, Israel, and North Korea will gather. Diplomats often refer to this convergence as the ‘World Cup of diplomacy,’ highlighting its importance for global dialogue.
The assembly unfolds amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza. Discussions are anticipated to heavily feature Israel’s actions in Gaza, along with the immense suffering and widespread starvation experienced by Palestinians.
A significant focus will be the issue of Palestinian statehood, highlighted by a conference on Monday co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. It’s anticipated that France, Britain, Canada, and Australia will formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, following the lead of the majority of UN member states that have already done so.
However, both Israel and the United States oppose this step. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that such recognition would only ’embolden’ Hamas, cautioning that a renewed push for Palestinian statehood could trigger a strong reaction from Israel.
Former President Trump is also slated to play a prominent role, with an early speaking slot on Tuesday, the opening day for addresses. His return to the UN platform comes as he continues to exert influence unilaterally, both domestically and internationally. While his relationship with the United Nations has historically been contentious, he has not entirely disengaged from the body.
In February, Trump publicly stated his perspective on the international body: ‘There are great hopes for it but it’s not being well run; to be honest, they are not doing the job. They’ve got to get their act together.’
Diplomats and UN officials will be closely scrutinizing Trump’s address to the General Assembly, seeking insights into his administration’s future engagement with the United Nations. Trump has previously initiated a review of US interactions with the organization, significantly cut funding to numerous UN programs, and withdrawn from several UN agencies and the Paris Agreement on global warming.
Dorothy Shea, the acting US ambassador to the UN, outlined America’s stance at a General Assembly reception, stating that the United States approaches this session with a clear vision, founded on three enduring priorities: peace, sovereignty, and liberty.
Last week, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his eagerness to meet Trump, saying he would be ‘delighted.’ According to diplomatic sources and a senior UN official, the two leaders have not met or conversed since Trump assumed office in January, despite multiple efforts by Guterres to initiate contact.
In an apparent appeal to Trump’s self-professed peacemaking abilities, Guterres proposed innovative ways the two leaders could collaborate to resolve international disputes. He acknowledged that while the United Nations has extensive contacts, experience, and expertise, it lacks the power to enforce pressure or offer incentives to nations.
He noted that the United States, in contrast, ‘has carrots and sticks.’ Guterres suggested that by combining these strengths, ‘we can have a very effective way to make sure that some peace processes at least can lead to a successful result.’
The United Nations has frequently demonstrated its inability to halt conflicts. This shortcoming is largely due to the UN Security Council, whose efforts in conflict resolution and prevention are often hampered by deep geopolitical divisions among its permanent members.
Adding to the distress, a significant financial anxiety permeates the organization this year. The United Nations is currently experiencing a severe cash shortage, a result of member states delaying or entirely withholding their mandatory dues. Furthermore, it confronts a budget crisis, threatening its ability to fund various agencies and crucial peacekeeping missions, particularly after substantial cuts from its largest donor, the United States.
Major contributors like China, Japan, and the European Union have not yet stepped up their financial commitments to offset the reduction in US funding. Even China, a key member, reportedly delayed its UN dues payment this year.
Robert A. Wood, who served as a deputy ambassador to the UN during the Biden administration, characterized the budget crisis as a ‘five-alarm fire for the U.N.’ He noted the ironic situation: ‘We don’t know if a fire crew is coming to the rescue: It should be the United States, but it is causing some of the fire.’
To address this impending crisis, Guterres has introduced a reform initiative known as UN80. This plan proposes streamlining administrative operations, eliminating redundancies, reducing thousands of mandates, and relocating some personnel from costly centers such as New York and Geneva.
The recently proposed UN budget outlines a strategy for the organization’s self-preservation through significant downsizing. Its objective is to slash the overall UN budget for 2026 by approximately $500 million, amounting to a 15% budget cut and a 19% reduction in staff, as reported by two senior UN officials in a recent background briefing. Furthermore, the peacekeeping budget is slated for an 11.2% cut, resulting in a 13% decrease in positions.
However, Guterres has communicated to member states and UN staff that these cuts alone will not resolve the immediate liquidity issues. He emphasized that the intention behind these measures is to strategically position the organization to more effectively navigate its numerous ongoing challenges.
At an event commemorating the UN’s 80th anniversary on Friday, Guterres stood by the organization’s past achievements and its future potential, urging, ‘Let us celebrate not only what has been achieved — but what still lies ahead.’