PART III. UN80 General Assembly High-level Week 2025

Philippines - DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro

Replacing President Marcos Jr., who skipped the event in favour of handling local issues, DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro spoke on behalf of the Philippine delegation. She invoked General Carlos P. Romulo’s historic words, quoting that “It is an accomplishment, he said, that will embrace and protect us at the same time that it liberates the human spirit.”  

Lazaro cited the worrying conflicts worldwide, calling for a ceasefire in both Gaza and Ukraine, and a call for the implementation of the two-state solution, which she called “the only viable diplomatic solution for sustainable peace.” She then promoted the Philippine bid for a non-permanent Security Council seat for 2027-2028. She framed the Council’s potential, saying, “When it acts for the interest of humanity, it is a fulcrum of change, a force for good and a bastion of hope for populations trapped in hopeless situations.” Drawing on domestic experience, she noted, “In the Philippines, we know that beyond stepping hostilities or stopping hostilities, peace is a just order with individuals flourishing in dignity at its center.”

Lazaro recalled the words of former President Carlos P. Romulo, the first Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly, saying that the Filipino stake in the UN is “one of an identical destiny of shared anxiety, of hope and endeavor.” She urged collective resolve: “we count on each other for the courage to hope and courage to act,” finishing with, “Let us persevere in purpose in action as the United Nations. So we can claim before those who came before us and those coming after that we have risen to the challenges of our time and have far exceeded our calling.”

Maria Ressa

“I've said over and over since 2016, without facts, you can't have truth. Without truth, you can't have trust.”

In her speech to the UN, 2021 Nobel Laureate and Filipino Journalist Maria Ressa spoke on the role of the media in humanity. “To fight [manipulation by surveillance capitalism], we need information integrity to remind us to be human,” she says.  She speaks on how the media is under fire nowadays, citing how this is the deadliest time for journalists, with more 240 journalists killed in Gaza alone. 

According to Ressa,  we are now living in an “information armageddon,” especially with the prevalence of generative AI. “Without these three, we don't have a shared reality,” she says, “We can't begin to solve any problems, let alone the existential ones you heard from the speakers before me. We cannot have journalism. We cannot have electoral integrity. We cannot have democracy.”Ressa also spoke on her own case, filed during the Duterte administration. “Until today, I still need Supreme Court approval to be here, but I'm here,” she says to the applause of the body. She also mentioned Duterte’s ICC case, saying “Impunity ends.”

She encourages the international community to address the impunity that undermines international law by strengthening multilateralism and calling for creativity in policy creation. “At this time of creative destruction, I implore you to create,” she says. 

Finally, she looks back again at the past of the UN and again calls for a return to creation. “It is time to create again to build better,” she says.

USA - Pres. Donald Trump

In a spontaneous, off-teleprompter address, President Donald Trump proclaimed that under his leadership, “we are the hottest country anywhere in the world,” boasting of an American resurgence in economy, security, and global standing. He contrasted his term with what he called “four years of weakness, lawlessness, and radicalism” under the previous administration.

Trump claimed he has “ended seven wars” in just months—wars including “Pakistan and India, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia”—and criticized the United Nations, saying “all they seem to do is write a really strongly worded letter … It’s empty words and empty words don’t solve war.”

On migration, he accused the UN of supporting illegal entry: “In 2024, the UN budgeted 372 million in cash assistance … The UN is supporting people that are illegally coming into the United States.” He declared that under his watch, enforcement has turned the tide: “They simply stopped coming.”

Trump also took aim at climate policy, labeling renewables “a joke” and accusing the UN’s climate agenda of being a “green scam.” He praised nations turning back to fossil fuels, while denouncing what he called “the greatest conj job ever perpetrated on the world.”

On weapons and global threats, he announced a U.S. push for stronger action: “I will lead an international effort … by pioneering an AI verification system that everyone can trust.” He warned nuclear and biological weapons pose existential danger: “There would be no United Nations … Just a few years ago, reckless experiments overseas gave us a devastating global pandemic.”

He ended by reaffirming national sovereignty and calling for reaffirmed global values: “Let us protect their borders … fight for their precious dreams … a planet of peace and a world that is richer, better, and more beautiful than ever before.”

In a speech mixing bravado, criticism, and global ambition, Trump issued a challenge to the UN: “It has such tremendous potential … but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential.”

Palestine - Pres. Mahmoud Abbas

At the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine addressed the assembly, highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urging international action to achieve justice and statehood.

Abbas opened with a stark account of suffering: “I speak to you today after almost two years in which our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been facing a war of genocide, destruction, starvation, and displacement… They killed and injured more than 220,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are unarmed children, women, and the elderly.” He detailed the siege’s effects: “They imposed a stifling siege on an entire people and destroyed more than 80% of homes, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, facilities, and infrastructure.”

Condemning Israeli policies, Abbas said: “The extremist Israeli government continues to implement its settlement policies… which would divide the West Bank into two parts and would isolate occupied Jerusalem… and would undermine the option of the two-state solution.” He called for an end to violence against civilians: “We reject what Hamas carried out on the 7th of October… these actions do not represent the Palestinian people, nor do they represent their just struggle for freedom and independence.”

Abbas outlined a vision for a modern, democratic Palestinian state: “We want to live in freedom, security, and peace like all other people on earth in an independent sovereign state on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as our capital… free of violence, weapons, and extremism.” He emphasized institutional reform: “Hamas and other factions will have to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian National Authority… We do not want an armed state.”

He urged international support, stating: “We are ready to work with US President Donald Trump and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan… in a way that would lead towards a just peace.”

Concluding with a message of resilience and hope, Abbas declared: “The dawn of freedom will emerge and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies… Our people will remain rooted like the olive trees, firm as the rocks.”

Israel - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly was marked by defiance, selective memory, and visible protest, as dozens of diplomats walked out of the hall in response to his defense of Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza.

Netanyahu opened by revisiting his 2023 UN speech, saying, “Last year I stood at this podium and I showed this map. This map, it shows the curse of Iran's terror axis.” He claimed Israel had “devastated Iran's atomic weapons and ballistic missiles programs,” and credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for helping “deliver on the promise” of preventing an Iranian nuclear threat. Critics, however, noted the lack of independent verification and the absence of acknowledgment for the regional civilian toll of ongoing Israeli operations.

Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu asserted, “The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City… That is why Israel must finish the job.” He evoked “October 7th—the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust,” yet offered little reflection on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.

Netanyahu lashed out at critics, accusing them of hypocrisy: “You condemn us, you embargo us, and you wage political and legal warfare.” He dismissed accusations of genocide as “a joke,” further alienating humanitarian observers.

He ended by insisting, “Our enemies are your enemies… The enemies of Israel tried to extinguish that light. Two years later, the strength of Israel burns brighter than ever.” Yet the walkout and muted applause that followed reflected a growing global impatience with Netanyahu’s rhetoric, which is seen by many as deflecting responsibility rather than seeking peace.

Nepal - Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN

The Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN Lok Bahadur Thapa delivered a reflective and urgent call for renewed global solidarity, outlining Nepal’s domestic democratic transition and its commitment to multilateralism.

He spoke of the recent Gen Z–led protests in Nepal, describing them as “a clear and compelling voice for change… a resounding reminder that the aspirations of the generations are nothing less than a fair, just, and prosperous Nepal.” He acknowledged that “unfortunate violence… claimed lives and left deep scars in our society” but affirmed that Nepal stands “at a historical crossroads” and remains committed to “the road to peace, democracy, and inclusive development.”

Thapa underscored Nepal’s enduring belief in the UN Charter, calling it “a compass that guides our actions on the global stage.” Marking Nepal’s 70th year of UN membership, he reaffirmed the country’s dedication to peacekeeping, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation: “For 80 years, our organization has remained a beacon of hope — hope for peace, hope for prosperity, hope for equity, justice, freedom, and human rights.”

On climate justice, Thapa highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability: “We have firsthand experience of glaciers melting in our Himalayas… threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions downstream.” He concluded by calling on the international community to “stand together, united and determined to ensure enduring peace and prosperity,” affirming that “when the United Nations succeeds, humanity as a whole succeeds.”

Finland - President Alexander Stubb

In his address to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Finnish President Alexander Stubb delivered a sharp and principled assessment of global power shifts, calling for renewed commitment to shared values, rule of law, and sweeping UN reform.

“In its simplest form, foreign policy is really about three things: about values, interests, and power,” Stubb began, underscoring that as a small state, Finland’s strength lies in “values and interests,” not hard power. He warned that the post–Cold War order is over, adding, “We don’t know what the new order is going to look like.” Yet he emphasized that “each and every member state of the United Nations has agency… it is important that we all use this power wisely and responsibly.”

Stubb drew a sharp contrast between multilateralism and transactionalism, questioning whether “those that speak the language of multipolarity” can solve existential challenges like climate change. He insisted, “Values should actually underpin everything we do. Without them, foreign policy will ultimately run into a wall.”

Criticizing global violations of international law, Stubb declared, “Russia has no right to continue its aggression on Ukraine. Israel has no right to violate international law in Palestine.” He called war “a failure of humanity… a collective failure of our fundamental values.”

Turning to the UN, he stated bluntly: “The United Nations of today does not sufficiently reflect the realities of the balance of power.” Calling for Security Council reform, he proposed adding “two new seats for Asia, two for Africa, and one for Latin America,” abolishing veto power, and suspending voting rights for states that violate the UN Charter.

Concluding, he urged the UN to “get back into peace mediation,” asserting that “if the UN is absent, conflicts are not resolved without it.” Finland, he said, “pledges to be a principled and pragmatic partner for peace.”

Barbados - Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

Addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados delivered one of the session’s most forceful and morally charged speeches, warning that the world is suffering from “a crisis of truth” that is eroding global trust and justice.

“When we lose shared truth, our communities, our countries, our global society lose their center of gravity,” she declared, adding that “in the absence of truth, trust deteriorates.” Mottley decried a world where “law becomes theater, news becomes spectacle, as science becomes just another opinion.”

Condemning global inaction on humanitarian crises, Mottley stated bluntly: “The world must not ignore the horror in Sudan and of course, I don’t need to remind you that it must not ignore the horror in Gaza.” She called Israel’s ongoing bombardment “genocidal destruction” and demanded, “Yes, there must be a release of the hostages taken on October 7th, but we have now gone to a point where all of our human sensibilities are offended by the continuous and disproportionate attacks on the Palestinian people and the failure to allow access by the international community to the survivors for the provision of humanitarian aid.”

Mottley concluded with a challenge to the global order: “The world needs a reset… A lasting peace can never be achieved through violence, not continued bombing. It can only be achieved through justice as our guide and dialogue.” 

Ukraine - President Volodymyr Zelensky 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered one of the most sobering and urgent speeches of the session — condemning global inaction, warning of a “collapse of international law,” and declaring that “weapons decide who survives.”

Opening with an appeal for solidarity, Zelensky stated, “Dear leaders, dear friends… Today, no one but ourselves can guarantee security. Only strong alliances, only strong partners, and only our own weapons.” He lamented that “the 21st century isn’t much different from the past… Not international law, not cooperation. Weapons decide who survives.”

Zelensky sharply criticized the weakness of global institutions: “Nations can speak about their pain from stages like this, but even during bloodshed, there isn’t a single international institution that can truly stop it.” He questioned, “What can Sudan or Somalia or Palestine or any other people living through war really expect from the UN? For decades, just statements and statements.”

Turning to Russia’s invasion, Zelensky said, “People are still dying every week. Yet there is no ceasefire because Russia refuses.” He accused Moscow of abducting “thousands of Ukrainian children,” and warned, “Every year that this war goes on, weapons become even more deadly. And only Russia deserves to be blamed for this.”

He also cautioned against the rise of autonomous warfare, saying, “We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history because this time it includes artificial intelligence.”

Calling for global cooperation, Zelensky urged: “We need global rules now for how AI can be used in weapons… and we need to restore international cooperation for peace and security.”

He concluded with a direct appeal: “Please speak out and condemn [Russia’s war]. Please join us in defending life and international law and order. People are waiting for action.”

South Sudan - Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu

Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu of South Sudan delivered a message of “peace, unity, development, and unwavering commitment to global partnership.” Speaking on behalf of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, she reflected on the country’s journey from decades of war to fragile peace and ongoing reconstruction, describing South Sudan as “the youngest country in the world and the 193rd member of the United Nations.”

Lagu highlighted the progress of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, noting it is “about 60% executed” and has “held for seven years and a relative peace has been attained.” She reported that preparations for “general elections in December 2026” are underway and affirmed, “His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit announced on several occasions that he will not take this country back to war.”

On climate change, Lagu stressed that South Sudan is “one of the countries adversely affected despite contributing minimally to global emissions.” She called for “equitable and predictable climate financing” and “technology transfer, capacity building, and foreign direct investment,” emphasizing that “the global community cannot afford to ignore climate injustice.”

Lagu also appealed for the “removal of targeted individual sanctions and the arms embargo on South Sudan,” arguing that peace and elections are essential to stability across the Horn of Africa. She closed with a call for renewed multilateralism: “It is better together for us nationally. It is better together for us globally.”