Overview

• Baerbock resurfaced on Instagram with a short video from Manhattan that shows her passing UN headquarters, signaling her move and fresh start in New York.
• She is scheduled to be sworn in as president of the 80th UN General Assembly on 9 September following her election by member states in June.
• The one-year post involves chairing sessions of all 193 UN members, with proceedings carrying symbolic weight but no legal force and no possibility of immediate reelection.
• According to reporting, officials in Berlin hope her presence will aid Germany’s Security Council campaign, while some worry her perceived positions could strain ties with parts of the Global South.
• In Germany, debate persists over her use of the term “Völkerrechtlerin” given the absence of state law exams in her background, and the UN’s 80th‑anniversary event on 22 September plus the General Debate on 23 September will quickly put her in the spotlight.