After two years when many leaders stood by video because of the coronavirus pandemic, now presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and foreign ministers have gathered almost entirely in person for the world’s premier diplomatic event. But the tone is far from celebratory. Rather, it is the explosion of a tense and anxious world. “We are locked in colossal global dysfunction,” said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, adding that “our world is in peril – and paralyzed.” He and others pointed to conflicts ranging from Russia’s six-month war in Ukraine to the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Speakers are concerned about a changing climate, rising fuel prices, food shortages, economic inequality, immigration, misinformation, discrimination, hate speech, public health and more. Priorities varied, as did prescriptions for curing humanity’s ills. But at a forum dedicated to the idea of uniting the world, many leaders heard a common theme: The world needs cooperation, dialogue and trust, now more than ever. “We live in a time of uncertainty and shock,” said Chilean President Gabriel Boric. “It is clear these days that no country, great or small, humble or powerful, can save itself.” Or, as Guterres put it, “Let us work as one, as a coalition of the world, as united nations.” It’s rarely that easy. As Guterres himself noted, geopolitical divisions undermine the work of the UN Security Council, international law, citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and most forms of international cooperation. “The divergence between developed and developing countries, between North and South, between the privileged and the rest, is becoming more and more dangerous day by day,” the secretary-general said. “It is at the root of the geopolitical tensions and mistrust that poisons every area of global cooperation, from vaccines to sanctions and trade.” While calls for maintaining large-scale international cooperation – or multilateral, in diplomatic parlance – abound, so do differing ideas about the balance between cooperation and self-defense and whether an “international order” is needed » created after World War II. rearrangement. “We want a multilateral approach that is open and respects our differences,” said Senegalese President Macky Sall. He added that the United Nations can win the support of all countries only “on the basis of shared ideals and not local values created as universal norms.” After the pandemic forced an entirely virtual meeting in 2020 and a hybrid one last year, representatives reflecting the countries and cultures of the world are once again filling the halls of United Nations headquarters this week. Before the meeting began, masked leaders and ministers wandered around the assembly hall, talking individually and in groups. It was a sign that despite the fragmented state of the international community, the United Nations remains the main gathering place for world leaders. Nearly 150 heads of state and government have registered to speak during the nearly weekly “General Discussion,” a high number that shows the gathering’s distinction as a place to express their views and meet privately to discuss various challenges — and, they hope, is making some progress. Guterres made sure to start by sounding a note of hope. He showed a photo of the first UN-chartered ship carrying grain from Ukraine – part of a deal between Ukraine and Russia helped by the United Nations and Turkey – to the Horn of Africa, where millions of people are on the brink of starvation. , he said, an example of promise “in a world teeming with turmoil.” Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine was at the top of many speakers’ agendas. The conflict has become Europe’s biggest war since World War II and has opened rifts between the major powers in a way not seen since the Cold War. It has also raised fears of a nuclear disaster at a major power plant in now-Russian-held southeast Ukraine. Meanwhile, the loss of important grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia has caused a food crisis, especially in developing countries, and inflation and rising costs of living in many nations. As Jordan’s King Abdullah II noted, prosperous countries experiencing unprecedented scarcity are “discovering a truth that people in developing countries have known for a long time: For countries to thrive, affordable food must reach every table. family”. Leaders in many countries are trying to prevent a wider war and restore peace in Europe. Diplomats, however, do not expect any major progress this week. In an impassioned speech to the assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron said no country can stand on the sidelines in the face of Russia’s aggression. He accused those who remain silent of being “somehow complicit in a new case of imperialism” that is encroaching on the current world order and making peace impossible. Slovak President Zuzana Kaputova’s country has long depended on Russia for oil and gas. However, Slovakia has provided military assistance to neighboring Ukraine, he noted. “We, the members of the UN, must be clearly on the side of the victim against the aggressor,” he said. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, protection of civilians and “the maintenance of all channels of dialogue between the parties”. But he opposed what he called “one-sided or one-sided” sanctions by the West, saying they have damaged the economic recovery and threatened the human rights of vulnerable populations. Neither Ukraine nor Russia have yet had their turn to speak. The assembly agreed to allow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speak via video, after objections from Russia and some of its allies. Zelenskiy’s speech is expected on Wednesday, as is US President Joe Biden’s personal speech. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to attend the forum on Saturday.
Edith M. Lederer is the chief UN correspondent for The Associated Press and has covered international affairs for more than half a century. For more AP coverage of the UN General Assembly, visit
