This week, as world leaders flock to New York City for the annual United Nations General Assembly, the organization marks its 80th anniversary. However, the atmosphere is anything but celebratory. Global conflicts continue to rage, a significant budget crisis looms, and many are questioning whether the U.N. can still effectively address the world’s most pressing issues.
Historically, these annual gatherings have been platforms for U.N. officials and world leaders to propose grand visions and elaborate strategies for global change. Yet, concrete achievements often prove frustratingly hard to come by.
Current events underscore this struggle: Russia’s war in Ukraine persists for over three years, while the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza nears its second anniversary. Meanwhile, critical global goals on development and climate change solutions remain largely unmet. Even the U.N.’s vital humanitarian aid efforts, a cornerstone of its global leadership, face severe threats from budget cuts, dwindling donor support, and staff reductions.
Richard Gowan, U.N. 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 added that the upcoming week might not provide solutions, but it will certainly highlight the immense difficulties facing the organization.
Despite these challenges, the annual meeting remains a crucial global stage. Over 140 world leaders and high-ranking officials, including President Trump, along with delegations from key nations like Russia, Ukraine, China, Iran, Syria, Israel, and North Korea, will gather. Diplomats often refer to this as the ‘World Cup of diplomacy,’ underscoring its significant role.
Against the grim backdrop of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza, the General Assembly will prioritize discussions around Israel’s actions in Gaza and the severe suffering and starvation faced by Palestinians.
A pivotal moment will be a conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia focusing on Palestinian statehood. France is anticipated to formally recognize Palestine as a state, aligning with the majority of other U.N. member nations. This move follows similar recognitions by Australia, Britain, and Canada, which occurred just before the General Assembly.
However, this initiative faces strong opposition from Israel and the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that such recognition would only embolden Hamas and cautioned that a renewed push for Palestinian statehood could trigger a forceful Israeli response.
Former President Trump is also expected to be a prominent figure, slated to speak early on Tuesday, the opening day of addresses. His return to the U.N. stage comes after a period of exercising power with a distinctly unilateral approach both domestically and internationally. While his relationship with the United Nations has often been tense, he has never entirely dismissed the organization.
In February, Trump commented on the international body, stating, “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 U.N. officials will be keenly observing Trump’s General Assembly address for insights into his administration’s future engagement with the United Nations. He previously initiated a comprehensive review of U.S. interactions with the body, significantly cut funding for various U.N. programs, and withdrew from several agencies and the Paris Agreement on global warming.
Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. ambassador to the U.N., articulated America’s priorities at a General Assembly reception, stating that the United States approaches the session with a clear vision founded on “peace, sovereignty, and liberty.”
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his eagerness to meet with Trump, noting that despite multiple outreach attempts, the two had not spoken since Trump assumed office in January, as confirmed by diplomats and a senior U.N. official.
In an apparent bid to leverage Trump’s self-proclaimed role as a peacemaker, Guterres proposed innovative collaborations to resolve global conflicts. He highlighted the U.N.’s extensive network, experience, and expertise, while acknowledging its lack of enforcement mechanisms or rewards for compliance.
Guterres observed that the United States, by contrast, possesses “carrots and sticks.” He suggested that a combination of the U.N.’s capabilities with U.S. influence could create a highly effective approach to achieving successful peace processes in certain situations.
Despite its mandate, the United Nations has frequently struggled to prevent or resolve conflicts. This persistent challenge is largely attributed to the U.N. Security Council, where deep geopolitical divisions among its permanent members often paralyze effective action.
This year, the U.N.’s financial anxieties are particularly acute. The organization faces a severe cash shortage due to countries delaying or entirely withholding their mandatory dues. This, compounded by budget cuts from member states—most notably from its largest donor, the United States—threatens the operation of its various agencies and crucial peacekeeping missions.
Despite the U.S. funding cuts, other major donors like China, Japan, and the European Union have not stepped up their financial contributions to fill the gap. Even China, a significant contributor, delayed its U.N. dues payment this year.
Robert A. Wood, who served as deputy ambassador to the U.N. under the Biden administration, described the budget crisis as a “five-alarm fire” for the organization. He lamented the uncertainty of a rescue, noting that while the United States traditionally would lead such efforts, it is paradoxically contributing to the problem.
To mitigate the impending financial disaster, Guterres has introduced a reform plan, “UN80,” aimed at streamlining administrative functions, eliminating redundancies, reducing thousands of mandates, and relocating staff from costly locations such as New York and Geneva.
The proposed U.N. budget for 2026 demonstrates an attempt at self-preservation through contraction. It aims to reduce the overall budget by approximately $500 million, resulting in a 15% budget cut and a 19% staff reduction. Peacekeeping operations will also face an 11.2% budget cut and a 13% reduction in positions, as reported by senior U.N. officials.
Despite these measures, Guterres has cautioned member states and personnel that these cuts alone will not resolve the immediate liquidity crisis. Instead, he framed them as strategic adjustments to better position the organization in facing its multifaceted challenges.
During an event marking the U.N.’s 80th anniversary, Guterres defended the organization’s past achievements and its future potential, urging, “Let us celebrate not only what has been achieved — but what still lies ahead.”