UN General Assembly Opens Amid Global Crises
World heads of state are gathering in New York this week for the UN General Assembly. Prime Minister Bart De Wever is attending the diplomatic summit for the first time alongside ministers and Queen Mathilde. The UN, now 80 years old, faces challenges in maintaining its relevance as major powers increasingly disregard international law and cooperation, reports 24brussels.
The assembly convenes against a backdrop of ongoing global conflicts, including those in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The re-election of Donald Trump poses additional challenges, as key international issues—such as climate change and development cooperation—continue to be sidelined.
Trump will take center stage on Tuesday during the high-level week of the assembly, addressing leaders after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Belgium’s address is scheduled for Thursday.
Sustainable Development Goals
Numerous bilateral and informal meetings are occurring across UN headquarters, embassies, and hotels. De Wever and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot will meet with Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi on Tuesday and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.
High-level conferences focused on issues like artificial intelligence and women’s rights will also take place, with Queen Mathilde set to address the latter. As a longstanding ambassador for the UN’s sustainable development goals, she will participate in a meeting of the international coalition aimed at ensuring the return of Ukrainian children and engage with UN officials.
Organised Crime
On Monday evening, De Wever will speak at an event concerning energy and logistics, organized in collaboration with grid operator Elia and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Belgium, in partnership with Jordan and the EU, will host discussions focusing on the plight of children in Gaza. Additionally, De Wever and Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden will participate in a session addressing organised crime held jointly with Panama and Thailand.
Belgium aims to bring the secretariat of the BBNJ treaty and its approximately 15 employees to Brussels, emphasizing its commitment to biodiversity protection in the high seas, which seeks to ensure that 30 percent of ocean areas remain shielded from harmful human activities by the end of the decade.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at United Nations headquarters in New York, 19 September 2025 © PHOTO ANGELA WEISS / AFP
