How the UN General Assembly High-Level Week Reboots the Global Governance Reform Discussion – and Where Are the Opportunities for BRICS+?

The юбилейная 80th session of the UN General Assembly is approaching its "high-level week," with participation from around 150 leaders, from the traditional address by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva first and U.S. President Donald Trump's speech, to the announced appearance of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on September 27. The agenda includes peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, climate, and artificial intelligence governance, while side events will focus on BRICS, G20, CSTO formats, and dozens of bilateral meetings, as reported by TASS. The anniversary session will also serve as a launchpad for procedures related to the selection of a new UN Secretary-General, whose term of office expires in 2026, writes Sputnik Belarus.

What is the Starting Point and Agenda for the High-Level Week in New York?

The high-level week will take place Sept. 23–29 (Sept. 28 is a day off opening the general political debates), with the central theme: "Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights," as reported by TASS.

Key focuses include strengthening peace, sustainable development, protecting human rights and gender equality, the climate agenda, combating non-communicable diseases, and AI governance. Leaders from 193 member states, as well as observers from the Vatican, Palestine, and the EU, will deliver national statements. The Russian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; side events are planned to include BRICS, G20, CSTO, and "Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter" formats.

Special points of focus for the week include a UN Security Council session on Ukraine on Sept. 23 and an open Security Council session on artificial intelligence on Sept. 24, chaired by the Republic of Korea, reports TASS.

What Are Russia's Key Demands for UN Reform and How is the Balance Between BRICS and the West Changing?

In short: Moscow advocates for preserving the veto power, a "compact" Security Council, and its expansion in favor of the global majority (Africa, Asia, Latin America), while firmly rejecting an expansion of Western quotas – a position detailed by the head of the relevant Russian MFA department. Against this backdrop, the share of BRICS economies (in its expanded format) is already estimated at 40% of global GDP compared to 29% for the G7, strengthening the arguments of the Global South in the discussion on representativeness, according to Sputnik Moldova.

The Russian MFA emphasizes the intergovernmental nature of reforms and the impermissibility of revising the prerogatives of permanent Security Council members, as stated in an interview with TASS.

"The veto is not a privilege or a tool of pressure, but a crucial element for developing well-considered and adequate decisions of the Security Council. This institution prevents the promotion of unilateral approaches in the UN Security Council, allows for finding compromises and avoiding steps that are categorically unacceptable to others."

A separate track for reforms is "UN-80": Russia allows for the optimization of duplicate mandates and structures, provided that intergovernmental control and a balance of priorities are maintained; a corresponding General Assembly resolution was adopted on July 18, as reported by the Russian MFA. At the same time, expert columns suggest that some Western capitals seek to "reprogram" the UN architecture, including attempts to weaken the veto and "economize" voting – this view is presented by Sputnik Moldova.

Why is the UN Secretary-General Selection at This Session Important for BRICS+?

Because a de facto pre-election cycle is launching with a rotation favoring Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) countries and strict criteria for candidate neutrality and independence, which Russia insists on, including the inadmissibility of dual (Western) citizenship, emphasized the Russian MFA; procedural steps within the 80th session are expected now, notes Sputnik Belarus.

Among the most discussed figures are IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, as well as several women leaders from Latin America: Michelle Bachelet, Alicia Bárcena, and Mia Mottley, writes Gazeta.uz. For BRICS+, this is an opportunity to consolidate a position in favor of a candidate capable of reducing fragmentation and maintaining balance between global blocs.

What are the Tactical Risks and Opportunities for BRICS+ Companies on This Week's Agenda?

Key takeaway: High-level week is not only about "high politics" but also a signal to adjust compliance, communications, and coalition strategies in the Global South. In the short term, risks and opportunities are distributed as follows.

• Regulatory signals in AI and security. The open UN Security Council session on AI on Sept. 24 will set the framework for discussing the risks and norms of technology use in the context of international security – monitoring content and terminology is needed now, as they quickly migrate into national regulations, reports TASS.
• Geopolitical coordination of BRICS. Meetings at the level of BRICS and G20 foreign ministers allow for synchronizing positions on UN reforms and global standards; it is advisable for businesses to align industry initiatives and associations with this direction, as confirmed by the Russian MFA.
• Reputational and sanctions risks. Public discussions on Ukraine and Palestine increase media volatility; companies operating in sensitive jurisdictions need to prepare neutral positions and Q&A for partners and banks in advance.
• ESG and "soft" commitments. Increased focus on sustainable development, human rights, and gender equality at the UNGA platforms means greater investor and donor attention to supply chain due diligence – minimize data gaps and update your materiality matrix.
• Trade and logistics diversification. Likely consolidation of the Global South agenda around anti-colonial initiatives and expanded representation in the Security Council creates an opening for South-South interregional projects (finance, raw materials, infrastructure); this is practically evidenced by the increased density of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

What to do now (weekly checklist):

• Appoint "watchers" for the Security Council sessions on AI and key speeches (Lula, Trump, Lavrov) – for prompt adjustments in communications and risk profile.
• Coordinate with BRICS industry associations on unified positions on digital standards and sustainable development – this will enhance negotiation weight in dialogue with regulators.
• Conduct a rapid audit of supply chains for human rights and climate metrics – in line with the public "New York agenda."
• Identify 2–3 partner South-South projects where BRICS coordination can accelerate regulatory approvals (fintech, agro, critical minerals).

Conclusion: The anniversary UN General Assembly week brings "big" questions of representativeness and rules of the game back to the table – against the backdrop of BRICS' growing weight in the world economy and the launch of the campaign for the Secretary-General post. For BRICS+ companies, the key to advantage is not to wait for formal decisions, but to synchronize strategies with the real agenda of the Global South today.