Trump uses UN platform to seal Arctic pact, pressure Iran and Russia, and court China on AI

Donald Trump used the United Nations gathering to showcase a series of foreign-policy moves, beginning with the signing of an Arctic security pact that expands the US military presence in Greenland without annexation. He delivered a hardline address to the General Assembly, stating the US will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and offering economic cooperation if Tehran ends its nuclear program. On the Ukraine front, Trump claimed close work with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders and introduced a new sanctions package targeting Russia’s energy sector while keeping diplomatic channels open.

The week also set the stage for Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit to Washington in over a decade, with talks aimed at extending a fragile trade truce and creating a formal AI dialogue. Additionally, Trump rejected a global regulatory scheme for artificial intelligence, branding the technology as "superintelligence" and pledging US leadership. The UN speech also noted a 15% reduction in the UN budget for 2026 and a shift toward a leaner, more transactional American role in the organization.