United Nations General Assembly

FP’s guide to UNGA 80

Follow along with FP’s reporting team and contributors, catch up on our archival U.N. coverage, and receive special editions of Situation Report, our newsletter focused on security and defense, reported on the ground from New York.

From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
From left, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump Makes U-Turn on Ukraine Rhetoric

Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory.

Report
Sam Skove
Donald Trump at UNGA with one finger pointing toward the audience.
Donald Trump at UNGA with one finger pointing toward the audience.

Trump’s United Nations Grievance Airing

The U.S. president used his lengthy speech at UNGA to rail against immigration, climate activism, escalators, and more.

Situation Report
Rishi Iyengar, John Haltiwanger
A high angle view shows Donald Trump reading from an open notebook with large type at a lectern with a mic.
A high angle view shows Donald Trump reading from an open notebook with large type at a lectern with a mic.

Trump to U.N.: ‘Your Countries Are Going to Hell’

Read Trump’s full address at the U.N. General Assembly. 

Transcript
Christina Lu
The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, speaks at a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting to discuss Russian incursions into NATO airspace, in New York.
The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, speaks at a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting to discuss Russian incursions into NATO airspace, in New York.

UNGA Kicks Off Against Backdrop of Budget Crisis

As 150 leaders gather in New York, the serious diplomacy will happen on the sidelines.

Analysis
J. Alex Tarquinio
A U.N. peacekeeper in a blue helmet is seen in profile as he holds the pole of a blue U.N. flag in front of a razor wire border fence. Three other blue-helmet troops are visible behind him, holding rifles and peering at the camera. The landscape beyond the fence is a dusty hill spotted with sparse plants.
A U.N. peacekeeper in a blue helmet is seen in profile as he holds the pole of a blue U.N. flag in front of a razor wire border fence. Three other blue-helmet troops are visible behind him, holding rifles and peering at the camera. The landscape beyond the fence is a dusty hill spotted with sparse plants.

At 80, the U.N. Is Down but Not Out

Despite its many failings, the 80-year-old institution still has a vital role.

Argument
Richard Gowan
Guterres is shown at a podium.
Guterres is shown at a podium.

It’s Not Too Late to Fix the U.N.

The organization’s current cash crunch is a historic opportunity for reform. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Suzanne Nossel
Foreign-Policy-Marketing-Homepage-SitRep-UNGA-1000x400-hex5B92E5
Foreign-Policy-Marketing-Homepage-SitRep-UNGA-1000x400-hex5B92E5

Situation Report at UNGA

Reporters John Haltiwanger and Rishi Iyengar are on the ground, providing an inside look at one of the most consequential gatherings of the year. Enjoy daily editions Sept. 22-26.

FP at UNGA: From FP Events

  • Foreign-Policy-Event-Tech-Forum-2025-Site-FINAL-1500x1000
    Foreign-Policy-Event-Tech-Forum-2025-Site-FINAL-1500x1000

    Tech & AI Forum at UNGA80

    Reimagining Cooperation in a Digital Age

  • Foreign-Policy-Event-Energy-Forum-2025-Site-FINAL-1500x1000
    Foreign-Policy-Event-Energy-Forum-2025-Site-FINAL-1500x1000

    Energy Forum at UNGA80

    Security, Sustainability, and Growth

  • Counterpoint-Site-Email-1500x1000
    Counterpoint-Site-Email-1500x1000

    Counterpoint @ UNGA80

    Live in New York City

  • Foreign-Policy-Event-Health-Forum-2025-Site-FINAL-1500x1000
    Foreign-Policy-Event-Health-Forum-2025-Site-FINAL-1500x1000

    Health Forum at UNGA80

    Renewed Investment for Maximum Impact

  • Foreign-Policy-Event-FoudationS-Site-1500x1000
    Foreign-Policy-Event-FoudationS-Site-1500x1000

    Risk, Resilience, Results

    The Power of Investing in Locally-led Climate and Health Solutions

  • Foreign-Policy-Event-FOF-Site-1500x1000
    Foreign-Policy-Event-FOF-Site-1500x1000

    Foundations of the Future

    New frameworks for Justice, Accountability, and Multilateral Cooperation

  • Foreign-Policy-Event-POP-Site-1500x1000 (2)
    Foreign-Policy-Event-POP-Site-1500x1000 (2)

    The Power of Purpose

  • Her-Power-2025-Site_6552c4
    Her-Power-2025-Site_6552c4

    Her Power at UNGA80

    Progress Under Pressure

Image of a dove on a globe
Image of a dove on a globe

UNGA80 = $80/year

Special offer! A year of global insights for just $80.

On the Agenda

A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.
A Finnish defender is seen near the front during the Finnish-Soviet Winter War in early 1940.

The Ghost of Finlandization Is Haunting the Ukraine Debate

A 1944 armistice that traded land for peace is a poor precedent for ending Russia’s war. This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Kristi Raik
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, and International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi sign a protocol concerning nuclear inspections in Cairo.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, and International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi sign a protocol concerning nuclear inspections in Cairo.

The Iran Deal That Isn’t Quite Yet

Analysis
Keith Johnson
The wrecked bodies of cars are strewn about a bridge beneath a hazy blue sky, some on the cracked road, others leaning on the barrier fence. Sheets of metal cover large potholes on the road.
The wrecked bodies of cars are strewn about a bridge beneath a hazy blue sky, some on the cracked road, others leaning on the barrier fence. Sheets of metal cover large potholes on the road.

Washington Can Keep Sudan’s Civil War From Getting Worse

Argument
Cameron Hudson
Husam Zomlot, the British ambassador to Palestine, lifts a new plaque for the Palestinian Embassy in London.
Husam Zomlot, the British ambassador to Palestine, lifts a new plaque for the Palestinian Embassy in London.

The Two-State Solution Takes Center Stage at UNGA

World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
Two people a near a fallen tree in a flooded area.
Two people a near a fallen tree in a flooded area.

The Only Way to Make Climate Progress

Argument
Samir Saran, Danny Quah
A digital image of a soldier wearing a helmet in profile in various blue hues appears above silhouettes of figures attending a conference.
A digital image of a soldier wearing a helmet in profile in various blue hues appears above silhouettes of figures attending a conference.

The Window for Combating AI Propaganda Is Closing

Analysis
Lukasz Olejnik
Polish police and army personnel inspect damage to a house destroyed by debris from a Russian drone shot down over the village of Wyryki-Wola, Poland, on Sept. 10.
Polish police and army personnel inspect damage to a house destroyed by debris from a Russian drone shot down over the village of Wyryki-Wola, Poland, on Sept. 10.

Russia Just Attacked NATO. Again. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Christian Caryl
Foreign-Policy-Marketing-Sailthru-SitRep-UNGA-200x110-hex5B92E5-v2
Foreign-Policy-Marketing-Sailthru-SitRep-UNGA-200x110-hex5B92E5-v2

Situation Report

FP’s security and defense newsletter

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a United Nations General Assembly meeting organized by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, seen in New York City on Sept. 22.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a United Nations General Assembly meeting organized by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, seen in New York City on Sept. 22.

UNGA Puts Palestine in the Spotlight

Day 1 of the gathering’s high-level week was dominated by discussion of a two-state solution.

Donald Trump speaking behind a podium at United Nations headquarters.
Donald Trump speaking behind a podium at United Nations headquarters.

What We’ll Be Watching for at UNGA

Trump will be the elephant in the room.

From the Magazine

An illustration of a tattered flag with a globe waving from a makeshift stick flagpole/
An illustration of a tattered flag with a globe waving from a makeshift stick flagpole/

The End of Development

The West’s aid model was always a mirage. It’s time for a realistic alternative.

Essay
Adam Tooze
A child walks across a dirt road carrying a canister of water.
A child walks across a dirt road carrying a canister of water.

Why the World Turned on NGOs

Essay
Suparna Chaudhry
Two women work at a sewing machine in a booth filled with patterned fabrics. A man is seen working on fabric at a table on the left.
Two women work at a sewing machine in a booth filled with patterned fabrics. A man is seen working on fabric at a table on the left.

Africa Is Now Calling the Shots

Essay
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
An illustration shows a stock ticker encircling and squeezing a globe.
An illustration shows a stock ticker encircling and squeezing a globe.

How Big Finance Ate Foreign Aid

Essay
Daniela Gabor

More on the United Nations

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a trilateral signing with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, left, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.
U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a trilateral signing with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, left, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Nobel Peace Prize for Department of War President?

Trump cites peace deals, but most are false wins.

Argument
Damian Murphy
Trump signs a document at a desk, next to a child also writing on a desk.
Trump signs a document at a desk, next to a child also writing on a desk.

Trump Is Learning Geopolitics 101 in Real Time

A guide to pushing the U.S. president more quickly up his learning curve. This article has an audio recording

Argument
Suzanne Nossel
Morgan Ortagus, a woman in her 40s wearing an orange suit jacket, raises her right hand while voting. Other officials and aides sit beside her at a long desk.
Morgan Ortagus, a woman in her 40s wearing an orange suit jacket, raises her right hand while voting. Other officials and aides sit beside her at a long desk.

America’s Infuriating and Irreplaceable Role at the U.N.

Trump (probably) won’t leave the international body—he will just continue to make its life difficult.

Analysis
Richard Gowan
The U.N. Security Council holds a meeting on the theme of “Leadership for Peace” at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Sept. 25.
The U.N. Security Council holds a meeting on the theme of “Leadership for Peace” at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Sept. 25.

The United Nations Is Still the Biggest Platform for Global Cooperation

Despite its failure to stop wars, the U.N. has made progress on issues from disease eradication to climate change.

Situation Report
Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch
A view of the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sept. 22.
A view of the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sept. 22.

Can the United Nations Still Be Effective?

War tends to stymie the international body, but smaller technical agencies still play a crucial role in running the world.

Insider
Ravi Agrawal
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 24 in New York City.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 24 in New York City.

Biden’s UNGA Goodbye

The outgoing U.S. president had little to offer on Ukraine and Gaza.

Situation Report
Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch
U.S. President Joe Biden waves from a podium.
U.S. President Joe Biden waves from a podium.

The World Is Leaving Biden Behind

In his valedictory speech at the United Nations, the president declared that the center was holding. But things are falling apart faster than he can keep up.

Analysis
Michael Hirsh
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at a press conference in New York.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at a press conference in New York.

UNGA Kicks Off Amid Dysfunction

As world leaders descend on U.N. headquarters, a Russian gambit on Sunday underscored tensions at the summit.

Analysis
J. Alex Tarquinio
A view of the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sept. 22.
A view of the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sept. 22.

Middle East Tensions Overshadow United Nations Summit

The threat of a second Middle East war is taking away from the "Super Bowl" of diplomacy.

Situation Report
Jack Detsch, Amy Mackinnon
An overheard view shows the large central room at the U.N. headquarters. Representatives of members of the Security Council sit at a large horseshoe-shaped desk at center as they attend a meeting.
An overheard view shows the large central room at the U.N. headquarters. Representatives of members of the Security Council sit at a large horseshoe-shaped desk at center as they attend a meeting.

The United Nations Prepares for a High-Stakes Summit

Along with wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, the issues of sustainability, pandemic prevention, and nuclear weapons are on the agenda.

Situation Report
Amy Mackinnon, Jack Detsch
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at the General Assembly to present priorities for 2024 at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at the General Assembly to present priorities for 2024 at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Can the West Revive Multilateralism?

A new survey reveals that support for international cooperation among global south countries is dismally low.

Analysis
Sophie Eisentraut
Members of the United Nations Security Council listen as Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., speaks during a meeting on the Israel-Hamas war at U.N. headquarters in New York City.
Members of the United Nations Security Council listen as Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., speaks during a meeting on the Israel-Hamas war at U.N. headquarters in New York City.

On Gaza, the U.N. Struggles for Relevance

As on Ukraine and other critical issues, the multilateral body is trapped in political theater.

Analysis
J. Alex Tarquinio
U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis reads aloud from a laptop screen while sitting at a podium desk in the U.N. meeting chamber. Francis, a middle-aged man wearing a blue suit, is also visible on a video screen hung on the wall next to a large United Nations logo.
U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis reads aloud from a laptop screen while sitting at a podium desk in the U.N. meeting chamber. Francis, a middle-aged man wearing a blue suit, is also visible on a video screen hung on the wall next to a large United Nations logo.

What Can the U.N. Do Now?

The president of the General Assembly talks about the organization's possible next steps in the Israel-Hamas war.

Insider
J. Alex Tarquinio
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wearing a dark green shirt, gestures with his left hand, as he stands behind the U.N. seal to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wearing a dark green shirt, gestures with his left hand, as he stands behind the U.N. seal to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Zelensky: ‘War Crimes Must Be Punished’

Ukraine’s president made an impassioned plea at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly to bring wrongdoers—such as Russia—to justice.

Dispatch
J. Alex Tarquinio
Head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power stands in front of St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, on October 6, 2022.
Head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power stands in front of St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, on October 6, 2022.

Samantha Power on America’s Development Diplomacy

The USAID administrator says U.S. contributions to the U.N. are at a “high watermark.”

Insider
Ravi Agrawal
Linda Thomas-Greenfield appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing regarding her nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27, 2021.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing regarding her nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27, 2021.

What Washington Wants From the United Nations This Week

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on reforming the world’s biggest multilateral organization.

Insider
Ravi Agrawal
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