President Karis to call on world leaders at UN to strengthen cooperation in defending rules-based world order and supporting Ukraine

From 22-24 September, President Alar Karis will be attending the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where his meetings and speeches will focus on Russian aggression, bolstering international support for Ukraine, reforms to the UN (including the Security Council) and preparations for the election of a new UN Secretary-General. The head of state will also be raising the issue of the impact of climate change and technological advances on global development and security, and meeting with the leaders of a number of countries far from Europe in order to strengthen cooperation.

President Karis will be delivering a State of the Nation address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday evening Estonian time which will focus on defending and reinforcing the rules-based world order, steadfast support for Ukraine and reforming the UN so that it is better able to fulfil its core purpose of protecting peace and international security.

"Estonia stands firmly behind the rules-based world order, as it is our common network of defence in maintaining peace and justice," he remarked. "Preserving it is the responsibility of the international community as a whole. We cannot allow justice to be replaced by force - and for that reason we must work with our allies to guarantee a stronger and fairer UN, one more capable of resolving existing conflicts and preventing new ones from arising. Russia's ongoing aggression is a serious challenge to the international order, and must be met with robust and united support for Ukraine."

The head of state added that other crises, including that in Gaza, also demand the international community's attention. "The rules-based world order is coming under increasing pressure, as is the UN at its heart, calling into question the organisation's credibility," he warned, referring to the need for UN reforms. "With the world facing all manner of conflicts at the same time as it deals with climate change and technological upheavals, the organisation cannot remain a bystander. It is up to us to ensure that the UN is capable of meeting these challenges, while at the same time defending the very principles on which it was founded: peace, human rights and international law."

While in New York, President Karis will be attending and speaking at a number of high-level events: a meeting to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations; a climate event chaired by Secretary-General António Guterres; and a side meeting on the organisation of the election of the next Secretary-General convened by Estonia in association with the International Peace Institute (IPI). This meeting will focus on ways of making the process of electing the UN Secretary-General more open and transparent. It is one of the week's most important for Estonia as a member of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group (ACT), given that a new UN Secretary-General is to be elected in 2026.

President Karis will also be speaking at a UN Security Council public debate on Ukrainian peace and security, and at the Fifth Summit of the International Crimea Platform, a global mechanism launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in 2020 to bring to an end the occupation of Crimea.

The head of state will likewise be taking part in a UN Security Council public debate on AI, where he will stress the need for a responsible and people-oriented approach to the use of AI in guaranteeing peace and security.

President Karis will also be attending a reception being organised by Barbados, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom dedicated to enhancing and improving UN and international cooperation.

Elsewhere, the head of state, along with President Edgars Rinkēvičs of Latvia and President Gitanas Nausėda of Lithuania, will be taking part in a discussion at the Concordia Summit at which they will focus on boosting Europe's energy security and independence.

Joint meetings of the Baltic heads of state with Secretary-General Guterres and their Polish counterpart are also planned. Moreover, President Karis is scheduled to meet with President William Ruto of Kenya and President Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia to discuss closer cooperation and the security situation in Europe and Africa, and with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, before attending a reception hosted by President Donald Trump of the United States.

While in New York, the head of state will also be opening a meeting of climate technology entrepreneurs, the Estonian delegation for which includes the companies R8 Technologies, Roofit.Solar, Primostar, PowerUP Energy Technologies and Parkinglot Category, as well as Beamline Accelerator, the Green Technology Alliance and the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS). This meeting will be taking place within the framework of a visit to the USA organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EIS. The Estonian companies will be showcasing the innovative technologies they have developed and seeking opportunities for international partnerships.