Overweight and weak: On the UN, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), established in 1945 under Chapter IV of the UN Charter, is the premier deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations, comprising all 193 member states. Each annual regular session opens in September at UN Headquarters in New York, featuring the high-level General Debate where world leaders address pressing global issues.

António Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, assumed office as the 9th UN Secretary-General on January 1, 2017. Serving two consecutive five-year terms concluding on December 31, 2026, his leadership spanned unprecedented global turmoil including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate emergencies, escalating geopolitical friction, and the rise of transformative technologies like Artificial Intelligence.

The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), based in Norway, documented in its landmark ‘Conflict Trends’ study that 2025 witnessed 65 active state-based conflicts across 35 countries, the highest tally since 1946. Driven by devastating wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, the report highlighted a marked resurgence of interstate warfare, high battle-related deaths, and soaring violence against civilians.

The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, following the ratification of the UN Charter by the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of other signatories. In 2026, marking its 81st year with 193 member states, the UN faces growing criticism that its primary decision-making body, the UN Security Council (UNSC), still reflects the 1945 post-World War II order rather than contemporary multipolar realities.

Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. In practice, this means any viable candidate must secure the approval of the Security Council’s five permanent members (P5), each wielding veto power. By long-standing tradition, the post rotates among regional groups and carries a five-year term, typically renewed once for a total of ten years.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and an experienced diplomat, was elected President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in June 2026, officially assuming office on September 8, 2026. The UNGA President plays an instrumental role in steering multilateral debates and coordinating member-state consultations to appoint the next UN Secretary-General who will take office in January 2027.

The 81st UNGA convened against the backdrop of three deeply destabilising regional wars: Russia’s protracted military invasion of Ukraine, the devastating war and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza involving Israel and Palestinian factions, and spiralling military confrontations across the Persian Gulf and Red Sea corridors that threaten international shipping and energy supplies.

During his address to the 81st UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of the possible “annihilation” of Iran amid ongoing conflict over its nuclear programme, prompting an Iranian delegation walkout. Trump also vigorously defended unilateral U.S. military operations and coercive pressure against the government in Venezuela.

Following a four-day military clash in May 2025 triggered by cross-border friction, India and Pakistan implemented a ceasefire agreed upon directly by their respective Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs). India strictly adheres to the 1972 Simla Agreement, which mandates that all bilateral matters with Pakistan must be resolved without external third-party mediation, causing New Delhi to view repeated U.S. mediation claims with sharp annoyance.

Masoud Pezeshkian took office as President of Iran in July 2024 following the death of Ebrahim Raisi. His speech at the 81st UN General Assembly featured harsh condemnations of Israel’s military campaigns across Gaza and Lebanon, the targeted killings of allied regional commanders, and the sweeping economic sanctions imposed by Washington on Tehran.

Under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, the United States is legally bound as host country to facilitate unimpeded entry and provide visas to all member-state and observer delegations attending UN meetings in New York, regardless of bilateral diplomatic animosity. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has regularly abstained from attending UNGA in person, driven by geopolitical friction with the West and travel limitations stemming from an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

The Partnership for Multilateralism (P4M), formally titled ‘Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity’, was launched on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st UNGA session. Spearheaded by the European Union, Brazil, Canada, and Kenya, and co-sponsored by India, the coalition of middle and emerging powers seeks to revive rules-based global governance, uphold international law, and make UN institutions more equitable beyond superpower domination.

The UN Security Council comprises 5 permanent members (P5) with veto powers and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. India has previously served eight terms on the Council (most recently in 2021-22 under the Modi administration), and officially launched its campaign under the ‘SHANTI’ vision for a ninth term in 2028-29, competing with Tajikistan for the Asia-Pacific regional seat while advocating for permanent Council membership.

India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on currency mechanisms, trade resilience, and Global South representation. Following this high-visibility summit, Mr. Modi decided not to travel to New York for the 81st UNGA session, tasking External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with addressing the assembly and leading high-level bilateral talks.

In contemporary global geopolitics, India increasingly positions itself as a ‘Vishwa-Mitra’ (friend to the world) and a vital bridge between the Global South and the West, as well as between competing power blocs. Guided by the UN Charter, New Delhi has consistently advocated for resolving territorial and political disputes through dialogue and diplomacy rather than armed conflict, an ethos articulated during high-stakes tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.