At the UN, a call for cooperation in a divided world

Every September, world leaders, diplomats, advocates, and other influential voices gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly — one of the most important moments on the diplomatic calendar.

At a time of complex and interconnected global challenges, the General Assembly is the one place where all nations, large and small, have the opportunity to share their vision and solutions for issues that no country can solve alone. From the rise of Artificial Intelligence to the devastating impacts of conflict, the General Assembly is the singular moment when all world leaders can come together to make progress on the threats facing humanity today and deliver hope for the future.

Ahead of this year’s Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that amid serious global existential threats, now is the time for leaders to come together to seek common ground and share solutions.

“Power is shifting. The world is changing. And our institutions must change with it,” he said, emphasizing, “International cooperation is more necessary than ever”.

Throughout the week, the Secretary-General will bring together leaders, major energy producers, and activists on Wednesday for the 2026 Climate Summit to discuss the need to priorities climate action and a just energy transition. Together, they will set out how to speed up the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, strengthen energy security, advance climate justice, and protect people from an accelerating climate crisis.

On Thursday, a high-level meeting will be dedicated to discussing Sea Level Rise, giving global leaders, experts, and other stakeholders a platform to discuss the urgent threat of rising sea levels. The gathering aims to increase awareness and promote greater political leadership and international cooperation to address the risks of rising seas, particularly for low-lying island nations such as the Maldives.

Stressing that the UN’s work must stay firmly grounded in the ideals and principles that have inspired its efforts to help people for more than eight decades, the Secretary-General said: “The United Nations is not just a platform, it is a promise”.

To attend the high-level meetings of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, a Maldivian delegation led by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, and other senior officials has arrived in New York.