UNGA 81 highlights AI race, Gaza war, and US-Israel-Iran tensions
The 81st UN General Assembly closed with leaders centering AI, the Gaza conflict and the US-Israel war on Iran, while Secretary-General Guterres warned that AI, climate, wars and inequality will define the future.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly concluded with a sharp focus on artificial intelligence, the Gaza war and the widening US-Israel conflict with Iran. In his final speech, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres identified AI, climate change, wars and inequality as the four pivotal challenges shaping the future, stressing the need for power balance over force, finance, energy and technology. Leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Andy Burnham and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud pressed for Palestinian sovereignty, while Benjamin Netanyahu announced continued military action against Hamas and Iran.
Donald Trump used his address to justify the Venezuelan operation that removed Nicolas Maduro and to boast of a massive oil deal, also claiming the US-Israel campaign had crippled Iran’s navy. Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, defended their nation’s right to peaceful nuclear technology. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, representing Xi Jinping, called for AI development that narrows the digital divide and respects Middle-East sovereignty. Side sessions saw the US-led Board of Peace unveil a $2.4 billion Gaza reconstruction plan that excludes UNRWA, and numerous diplomatic meetings among regional actors.
Why it matters
The summit set the global agenda on AI governance, Middle-East peace and major geopolitical tensions.
How this story developed
- Sep 12 Xi urges BRICS members to help broker peace in the Middle East
- Sep 13 Leaders adopted a 140‑point New Delhi Declaration covering security, trade, climate and technology issues.
- Sep 13 Day 2 of the summit focused on PM Modi’s four‑pillar BRICS agenda, early‑warning and disaster systems, AI, digital agriculture, supply chains and startups.
- Sep 13 President Xi outlined proposals for a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a China‑hosted service‑trade forum.
- Sep 16 Leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, focusing on the Middle East war, the Ukraine conflict and artificial intelligence concerns.
- Sep 18 The U.S. State Department told the United Nations to refocus on peace and security rather than "woke" politics as the Security Council prepares its third straw poll for the next secretary-general.
- Sep 19 India unveiled a BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework during the summit.
- Sep 21 Guterres urged global cooperation on AI, inequality and conflict before departing.
- Sep 22 The UN secretary‑general race has narrowed to seven candidates after former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet withdrew.
- Sep 24 Michelle Bachelet withdrew from the UN secretary‑general race.
- Sep 24 Guterres delivered his final UN General Assembly address, warning of deepening technological and geopolitical divides.
- Sep 24 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a combative UN speech, attacking Iran, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and allies Britain, France and Turkey, prompting walkouts and protests.
- Sep 25 A mass walkout by UN delegates and arrests of protesters occurred after the speech.
- Sep 26 Mamdani accused Netanyahu of lying and cited the ICC arrest warrant during his UN response.
In this story
Related stories
20 in this thread