Business

A world in turmoil turns to the UN for a way out

By Sohail Khan 22 September 2026, 11:34 am

Benchmarks
Nifty23,386.65-27.65

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
22 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›International›Global Trends›A world in turmoil walks into the UN, looking for a way out

Read Today's Paper

A world in turmoil walks into the UN, looking for a way out
Synopsis

World leaders gather amid escalating wars and economic uncertainty. The Middle East conflict has drawn in regional nations and closed a vital waterway. Ongoing Russia-Ukraine war shows no signs of diplomatic resolution or ending. Global crises extend beyond conflicts to pandemics and climate change impacts. Diplomats seek common ground to manage mounting international challenges.

UN General Assembly Trump — World leaders gather amid escalating wars and economic uncertainty

World leaders arriving in New York for the annual U.N. General Assembly are confronting a world dramatically different from the one they left behind a year ago.

Two escalating wars, a global economy in flux and a shifting balance of power have deepened uncertainty across the international system. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently described the moment as an “era of deep uncertainty”, as reported by AP, adding that the power is shifting, the world is changing and international institutions must change with it.

The turmoil is visible across continents. The conflict in the Middle East has spiralled since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack against Tehran, drawing in nearly every country in the region and resulting in the effective closure of a critical waterway.

From wars to climate, crises keep piling up

The past nine months have brought a string of shocks beyond the battlefields. A U.S. military operation removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power, while a deadly crackdown followed mass pro-government demonstrations in Iran.

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda in May raised fresh questions about the world's preparedness for another pandemic. Deadly earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, along with massive flash floods in Nepal and Tibet, added to concerns over the impact of human-caused global warming.

Against this backdrop, AP spoke to current and former ministers, ambassadors and officials from around the world ahead of the General Assembly. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they offered a stark assessment of the international system and its ability to respond to the mounting crises.

One European diplomat and another official told AP that the world is no better off than it was a year ago and has instead become more unstable. They pointed to attacks on international law, the breakdown or absence of mediation efforts and the failure to reach global consensus on climate, peace and security.

Former U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, who served at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under both Republican and Democratic administrations, told AP that this is a “critical time” to determine whether some of the disputes can still be resolved diplomatically.

“The U.N. is really at an inflection point,” Wood said, according to the report. “It was bad last year. It's not much better this year.”

Diplomacy searches for an opening

The General Assembly will bring the world's attention to speeches by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. But much of the diplomatic action could take place away from the main chamber, as officials seek meetings with allies and adversaries.

Among the issues they hope to tackle are maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the challenge posed by runaway artificial intelligence. The goal is to find openings where formal diplomacy has struggled to make progress, the report added.

For one Gulf official, the desired outcome is less ambitious but perhaps more fundamental: restoring some predictability to global affairs.

“In international relations, everything is changing: the friendships are changing, and alliances are changing,” Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer told AP. What remains constant, he said, are countries' interests and the need to align them “so that we live in peace and not in a permanent conflict.”

Also Read: Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi arrives in New York to participate in 81st UNGA session

That tension — between a rapidly changing world and institutions struggling to keep pace — will hang over this year's gathering. The question facing diplomats is not simply how to manage the latest crisis, but whether they can still find enough common ground to manage any of them.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
UN General AssemblyMiddle East conflictglobal economyinternational relationsRussia Ukraine warclimate crisisdiplomatic effortsartificial intelligenceVenezuela political situation

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year