How Global Powers Navigate Shifting U.S. Influence at the U.N. General Assembly

This year’s U.N. General Assembly officially opened on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The annual gathering provides diplomats and leaders with a valuable opportunity to advance their foreign policy priorities and engage—both formally and informally—with partners and adversaries alike. Most heads of state are expected to arrive later this month for the General Debate, which begins on Sept. 22 and concludes on Sept. 28.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior officials have openly criticized the United Nations, withdrawn from multiple U.N. agencies, and cut funding. More broadly, the Trump administration’s decision to reduce U.S. troop presence, shift greater security responsibilities to allies, and impose tariffs on both allies and adversaries has signaled a changed U.S. posture—one that suggests America no longer intends to uphold its traditional leadership role in sustaining the U.N. and the international political and economic order it supports.

Amid this evolving U.S. stance, experts were asked to analyze how various adversaries and allies are positioning themselves at this year’s General Assembly and what each hopes to accomplish.

Holly Dagres
Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute and Curator of The Iranist newsletter on Substack

Unlike the Trump administration, Tehran continues to see value in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, even though it has yet to leverage that platform to halt ongoing conflicts. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to address themes that resonate with the Global South—including the concept of a multipolar world and the waning influence of what Iran characterizes as American “imperialism.” He will also highlight what Tehran perceives as its resilience against attacks from its chief rivals—the United States and Israel, both of which initiated military actions during negotiations with Iran. Look for Pezeshkian to use the global stage to reinforce Iran’s narrative of defiance and self-reliance.

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