Overview

• Opening day in New York features addresses by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, with President Donald Trump scheduled to speak early.
• The White House signaled Trump will criticize multilateral institutions, and he plans separate meetings with Guterres and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• Several Western governments, including the UK, Canada, Australia and France, have recognized a Palestinian state; Germany held back for now, pledging €30 million to the Palestinian Authority and saying a recognition process should begin.
• Germany, France and the UK have triggered the JCPOA snapback over Iran’s nuclear commitments, raising the prospect of reinstating UN sanctions if no agreement is reached this week.
• Analysts and officials highlight deep UN budget shortfalls and stalled reforms, warning of cuts to humanitarian operations and urging institutional changes as great-power rivalry limits Security Council action.