Photos of world leaders confronting global crises at the UN General Assembly

News

Photos of world leaders confronting global crises at the UN General Assembly

2026-09-23 01:20 Last Updated At：01:31

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — World leaders gather at the U.N. General Assembly to address wars in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar, along with climate change, inequality, economic turmoil and questions about the U.N.’s future.

Click to Gallery

President Donald Trump points toward United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez listens as United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Photographers work as the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

President Donald Trump signs a security agreement with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles prepare to listen to remarks from President Donald Trump during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, looks at a smart phone as he attends the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

President Donald Trump meets with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa, right, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour, left, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Demonstrators against the Iranian regime protest outside of the United Nations headquarters during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Cristina Matuozzi)

President Donald Trump speaks to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

More Images

President Donald Trump points toward United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez listens as United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Photographers work as the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

President Donald Trump signs a security agreement with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles prepare to listen to remarks from President Donald Trump during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, looks at a smart phone as he attends the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

President Donald Trump meets with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa, right, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour, left, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Demonstrators against the Iranian regime protest outside of the United Nations headquarters during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Cristina Matuozzi)

President Donald Trump speaks to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Brazil's Lula warns against foreign interference in electoral processes

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday warned that countries shouldn’t interfere in the internal affairs of other nations, while also urging world leaders to take stronger action in response to intensifying global conflicts.

The mixed messages came as Lula spoke to the United Nations General Assembly, just before U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the group. Lula criticized external interference in Brazil’s internal affairs, only weeks ahead of his country's elections.

“We will not allow the enemies of democracy, whether domestic or foreign, to undermine popular will. Brazilian democracy belongs to Brazilians. Brazil will continue to be a sovereign country,” Lula said. “Nobody will turn us away from this path.”

Lula's speech comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Brazil. Last year, the U.S. imposed an initial round of tariffs, citing what Trump called a “witch hunt” trial against the country’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest following his conviction for an attempted coup.

Since then, relations between the two countries have become further strained, amid growing allegations of foreign interference in October’s elections in Brazil, in which Lula is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive presidential term.

His main political rival is Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, one of the sons of the former president.

The Trump administration has publicly backed Bolsonaro. Recently, Trump designated two Brazilian criminal groups, the First Command of the Capital, or PCC, and the Red Command, or CV, as foreign terrorist organizations. Lula rejected the decision, and some analysts and politicians have argued that the move could be intended to interfere in the country's election by portraying Lula as soft on organized crime.

Speaking to the U.N., Lula said Brazil’s ‌electoral ⁠system is “modern and robust” and warned against disinformation campaigns seeking to distort public debate during the campaign, noting that “democracy is once again in jeopardy."

“Brazil is nobody’s backyard,” he said. “We are once again ⁠witnessing external interference in electoral processes.”

Lula said Brazil does not underestimate the challenge of organized crime but "will not outsource the responsibility of defending” its own borders. His remarks Tuesday follow the unveiling last Friday of a pilot plan to expand the federal government’s role in fighting gang violence in Rio de Janeiro.

During his speech, Lula also addressed the Brazilian economy, saying that despite the massive tariffs, the country will break a new export record this year.

Lula started his speech railing against what he called weakness in the U.N.'s actions on wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and called for reform of the U.N. Security Council, saying that in 2025 alone the world “will see the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II” with “trillions of dollars financing a new arms race.”

“The U.N. is failing in one of its highest missions: to save humanity from the scourge of war,” Lula said. ”Its credibility has never been lower."

Lula said the U.N. must recover its capacity for dialogue and mediation and that it is time to choose between multilateralism or global fragmentation.

“Concessions to the law of the stronger have surpassed all limits. This is not idealism, but pure realism," he said. “War is not the continuation of politics by other means; it’s the complete breakdown of politics.”

Photos of world leaders confronting global crises at the UN General Assembly

Photos of world leaders confronting global crises at the UN General Assembly

President Donald Trump points toward United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez listens as United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Photographers work as the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

President Donald Trump signs a security agreement with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles prepare to listen to remarks from President Donald Trump during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, looks at a smart phone as he attends the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

President Donald Trump meets with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa, right, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour, left, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Demonstrators against the Iranian regime protest outside of the United Nations headquarters during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Cristina Matuozzi)

President Donald Trump speaks to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

President Donald Trump points toward United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez listens as United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Photographers work as the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

President Donald Trump signs a security agreement with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles prepare to listen to remarks from President Donald Trump during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, looks at a smart phone as he attends the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

President Donald Trump meets with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa, right, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour, left, arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Israel Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Demonstrators against the Iranian regime protest outside of the United Nations headquarters during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Cristina Matuozzi)

President Donald Trump speaks to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

United States President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Next Article

Brazil's Lula warns against foreign interference in electoral processes

Leifer Properties Enters Houston Market Through Fourth Joint Acquisition with Endeavor Capital

Yankees star Aaron Judge has injection in sore right calf, making status for postseason uncertain

Abdul El-Sayed says Kamala Harris' visit for his Michigan US Senate race is about Democratic unity

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova seals Czechia's place in last 4 at Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Trump signs US-Denmark-Greenland agreement to bolster Arctic security after prolonged tensions

Kylian Mbappé misses France training session with the flu as team prepares for Nations League

Red Wings playoff drought likely to last longer than a decade with ex-captain Dylan Larkin in limbo