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A General Assembly debate over the Strait of Hormuz laid bare the widening split at the United Nations, as PGA Annalena Baerbock put the Russian and Chinese vetoes under scrutiny and delegations from the Gulf, the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Israel fought to define the crisis.

The race for the next UN Secretary-General has begun, but speeches and vision statements rarely decide the outcome. Behind the scenes, Security Council veto power, regional politics and quiet diplomatic arithmetic are already shaping the contest.

In his final annual priorities address, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a blunt warning that the world is drifting into “chaos,” urging governments to recommit to the U.N. Charter and anchor their actions in “peace with justice” as conflicts, inequality and climate risks intensify.

The president of the U.N. General Assembly warned Wednesday that the multilateral system faces an existential moment as she fielded sharp questioning from journalists on the next secretary-general race, U.N. funding shortfalls and Israel’s restrictions on UNRWA. The sustained exchange revealed a press corps increasingly focused not on ceremony, but on whether the institution’s processes still carry real credibility.

The UN General Assembly approved a $3.45 billion budget for 2026 after months of difficult negotiations, locking in deep spending and staffing cuts as the organization faces severe cash-flow pressures and unresolved arrears from member states.

The UN General Assembly adopted 40 resolutions across Palestine, decolonization, and global communications, delivering overwhelming support for UNRWA amid the Gaza crisis and reaffirming Palestinian refugee rights and the illegality of Israeli settlements. Member States also established a new International Day Against Colonialism and advanced actions on the world’s remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories.