The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened in New York on Monday, with world leaders gathering for a high-stakes session expected to focus on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, growing Western recognition of Palestinian statehood, and rising nuclear tensions with Iran.
Over 150 heads of state and government, along with dozens of ministers, will join the General Debate starting September 23. US President Donald Trump will be among the first speakers. Massive security arrangements, including drones, helicopters, and thousands of police officers, have been deployed around UN headquarters.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who arrived in New York today, will address the Assembly on September 26 his third appearance. His speech will highlight the Gaza crisis, the right to self-determination in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), the climate emergency, and the global rise of Islamophobia. He is also expected to call for decisive action to end the suffering of Palestinians and push for recognition of long-denied rights.
The UK, Canada, and Australia recently joined other Western nations in formally recognising the State of Palestine, giving new momentum to the two-state solution. This diplomatic shift comes as the UN marks its 80th anniversary. UN Secretary General António Guterres warned leaders they were meeting in “uncharted waters” at a time of deep divisions and declining global cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz will also attend key side meetings, including climate action sessions, Islamic leaders’ talks with President Trump, and bilateral discussions with world leaders and UN officials. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said his participation will “showcase Pakistan’s strong commitment to multilateralism, peace, and development.”
Beyond geopolitics, the UNGA will discuss climate change, women’s rights under the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, and the challenges of artificial intelligence. A special summit on September 24 will review global climate pledges ahead of COP30 in Brazil, while another on September 25 will focus on creating a framework for inclusive AI governance.
The session will be presided over by Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, who becomes only the fifth woman to lead the General Assembly in its history.
As Guterres put it: “This is our moment of opportunity.”
