Arabic version: نقاشات الدورة 81 للجمعية العامة تركز على الحروب والذكاء الاصطناعي وفلسطين
According to Al Jazeera, the 81st United Nations General Assembly’s general debate concluded with artificial intelligence, the Israel-Palestine conflict and the US-Israel war on Iran dominating leaders’ speeches. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, delivering his final address before his term ends, identified AI, climate change, wars and inequality as four tests that will shape the world’s future.
Guterres said the decisive question across those tests was power over force, money, energy, technology, rules and the future. Addresses included calls to reform the United Nations and uphold international law. France, Canada, Iraq, the United Kingdom and others called for Palestinian sovereignty, while delegates protested during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech.
On the sidelines, the US-led Board of Peace presented a 66-project reconstruction blueprint for Gaza with proposed funding of $2.4bn. The plan excludes the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from a future role in Gaza. Palestinian political analyst and playwright Ahmed Najar said the decision aligned with Israeli efforts to marginalise and ultimately dismantle the agency.
US President Donald Trump defended military action involving Venezuela and Iran, reiterating that he would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself and would not give up what he described as its inherent right to peaceful nuclear technology. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held meetings with counterparts from several countries, as well as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in talks mediated by Qatar.
AI also drew competing visions. Finnish President Alexander Stubb called it the most consequential technology in human history and urged cooperation. Guterres and the European Union backed safety standards and international rules, while Trump argued that innovation should not be constrained by international regulation. Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend, sending Vice President Han Zheng, who called for AI development that narrows the digital divide and benefits all people.
