US President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, at a time of significant turbulence both on the global stage and within his own presidency. Trump's decision to order military action against Iran has sent shockwaves through the global economy, while anxieties over the societal impact of artificial intelligence continue to escalate. Adding to the uncertainty, the UN's own future direction is in question following reductions in US funding contributions. The White House has indicated that following his speech at the annual gathering of world leaders, Trump is expected to hold talks with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as well as an informal meeting with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.

He will also convene with leaders and senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. These discussions will focus on post-conflict arrangements related to the Iran war and escalating concerns over recent Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. This UN trip comes at a pivotal juncture: Trump's foreign policy, particularly his decision to initiate hostilities against Iran, is dampening Republican hopes of retaining control of both the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Despite this, administration officials have signaled that Trump will use his address to argue that his leadership has made the world a safer and better place. Ambassador Mike Waltz, Trump's chief envoy to the UN, told reporters, "We expect the President to focus his remarks on how he and his administration are confronting the full spectrum of complex challenges around the world." Waltz also hinted that Trump may reiterate his long-standing criticisms of the UN's effectiveness.

The Iran Conflict Takes Center Stage

In his address to the General Assembly last year, Trump declared that the US had "destroyed" Iran's nuclear capabilities following his order to bomb three key facilities in June 2025. Now, as he returns to the UN podium, a new war with Iran has been underway for nearly seven months. Trump maintains that the military action was necessary to neutralize the nuclear threat posed by Iran. Although strikes by the US and Israel have eliminated a significant portion of Iran's senior leadership, decimated its air and naval forces, and a US oil blockade has crippled Tehran's economy, the conflict has become increasingly complex. In recent weeks, the transportation of oil from other Gulf nations through the Strait of Hormuz has seen some improvement, aided by US Navy escorts helping commercial vessels navigate the narrow waterway. However, oil flows remain far below pre-conflict levels, with Brent crude persistently hovering near the $100 per barrel mark, a significant jump from the approximately $70 range seen in the weeks before hostilities began.

Energy markets remain deeply unsettled. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia shut down a critical oil pipeline intended to alleviate the bottleneck of crude stuck in the Gulf region, following an attack on the pipeline by Iran-backed militants operating from Iraqi territory. Adding to the volatility, Yemen's Houthi rebels have gained ground around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, making the Red Sea shipping route increasingly perilous for tankers. Majed Al-Ansari, the lead spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry, stated on Monday that Qatar and other mediators are working diligently to bridge the "severe trust deficit" between the US and Iran, aiming to bring both parties back to the negotiating table. Speaking at the Concordia Annual Global Forum, held alongside the UN's high-level week, Al-Ansari said, "Our message is this: this conflict will only end at the negotiating table. Either we sign a deal now, or we sign one in ten months' time. The only difference will be the number of casualties and the scale of destruction."

US Set to Sign Agreement on Greenland

At last year's UN gathering, Trump presented himself as a peacemaker, claiming "everyone says I should get the Nobel Peace Prize" for his administration's efforts in brokering resolutions to conflicts around the world. This year, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Trump administration plans to sign an agreement with leaders from Denmark and Greenland, paving the way for an expanded US military presence on the island. This agreement, announced last week, comes after Trump repeatedly threatened to "take over" Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark, by force if necessary. Under the terms of the pact, Greenland will remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2, "I look forward to the meeting tomorrow. I believe we have reached a good agreement."

Trump's Growing Frustration Over the Russia-Ukraine War

The President is also likely to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine during his speech. During his 2024 campaign, he predicted he would resolve the conflict on his first day back in office if re-elected. The President has frequently voiced his displeasure with the war's trajectory. He has made no secret of his waning patience regarding Ukraine's strikes on Russian diesel refineries, actions which have exacerbated volatility in the crude oil market, just as Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy grid have proven a persistent headache. Last week, Trump claimed he had brokered an agreement between the two sides to refrain from attacking each other's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he would accept Trump's proposal provided Russia adheres to it. Russia, in turn, has conditioned its compliance on the West first lifting energy-related sanctions against Moscow. Despite the claims, both sides continue to bomb refineries and other energy facilities. Before departing for New York on Monday, Trump expressed his irritation over the ongoing attacks on energy sites. In a social media post on Monday, Trump wrote, "Sadly, because of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has lost control of its diesel industry. This ridiculous, never-ending war must end."

Key Meetings with British, Japanese, and Venezuelan Leaders

This will mark the first in-person meeting between Trump and Andy Burnham, the center-left Labour Party leader who became UK Prime Minister in July. With high oil prices weighing heavily on the British economy, Burnham is eager to discuss ways to fully restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He announced on Monday that he would deploy Royal Air Force aircraft to the Middle East to assist Saudi Arabia in defending against Houthi attacks, with the planes providing aerial refueling for Saudi jets in a "defensive capacity." Trump's meeting with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, represents their first encounter since he ordered US troops to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.