The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convened in New York this week amid a complex global landscape marked by escalating trade tensions, ongoing conflicts, climate change challenges, and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence. Despite these urgent issues, questions persist regarding the effectiveness of the UN as a platform for addressing such multifaceted threats to international peace and security.
The UN remains the sole forum where all 193 member states can present their perspectives. However, the prominence of some countries appears to have diminished. Sri Lanka, once active on the international stage, was scheduled to speak on the final day of the assembly, a slot often reserved for less prominent participants after most key discussions have concluded. The country’s recent strategic choices—favoring bilateral relations, notably with India and the United States, over deeper multilateral engagement—signal a cautious posture amid shifting global dynamics. Notably, Sri Lanka was absent from recent major regional forums, including the Indian Ocean Conference, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, and the BRICS summit in New Delhi, despite having previously sought membership support from Russia and China.
Against the backdrop of US global leadership being questioned, new coalitions are forming to uphold multilateralism. Europe, which historically allied closely with the United States, has spearheaded the creation of “Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity” (P4M)—a bloc including Brazil, Kenya, Canada, and, subsequently, India and Australia—to counterbalance unilateral power politics. In a statement at the P4M’s inaugural session held on the assembly’s sidelines, members expressed concern over the expanding use of coercion, the violation of international law, and growing global polarization, warning these trends undermine cooperation during a critical juncture.
Tensions within the assembly were highlighted by US President Donald Trump’s speech, in which he reiterated calls for decisive action against Iran and positioned himself as a “man of peace.” His remarks drew criticism amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where thousands have suffered amid Israeli military operations. French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the assembly, condemned what he termed a “spectacle of shame” in Gaza and called on the international community to uphold international law over power-driven agendas. Macron and Mexican leaders have also revived efforts to reform the UN Security Council, advocating for the removal or limitation of veto powers held by the five permanent members—a mechanism critics argue allows for impunity, citing Israel’s actions in occupied Palestinian territories as a case in point.
The division over the UN’s role was starkly visible during the debates. Some leaders, such as Argentina’s President Javier Milei, dismissed the UN as ineffective, while others urged renewed commitment to the institution’s foundational principles. The presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, contrasted with the virtual participation of the Palestinian Authority leader, reflecting ongoing complexities in geopolitical representation.
Efforts to modernize the UN system face significant obstacles amid shifting power structures. Emerging economies seek Security Council expansion, but consensus remains elusive. The existing multilateral framework also struggles to address novel challenges presented by digital technology, climate change, and socioeconomic inequality. New centers of power rooted in technological innovation operate beyond traditional state sovereignty, complicating the UN’s mandate based on nation-state interactions.
As the assembly concludes, the global community confronts a critical period of reevaluation for the UN’s capacity to manage 21st-century challenges. The outgoing Secretary-General will leave this unsettled institutional legacy to his successor, whose election is forthcoming.