World leaders are meeting in New York for the "High Level Week" of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Newly elected President Annalena Baerbock stated that the UN is at a critical juncture. "The United Nations are under pressure financially, politically, but this is a moment where the countries around the world have to say this is why we stand up and deliver our charter," Baerbock said in an interview.

On Sunday, Australia officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, joining the UK, Canada, and 147 other countries. Baerbock emphasized that recognition does not end the suffering. "What we need most, and this is a call from the member states, is an unconditional ceasefire, which would allow humanitarian access to enter because people are literally starving," she said. She added that a ceasefire would also facilitate the release of hostages.

Australia's recognition of Palestine was anticipated in August and was formalized in a joint statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Baerbock noted that recent UN resolutions on Palestinian statehood affirm that statehood is a right for all members of the international community. However, she stressed the importance of ensuring Israel's security as well.

"The only way to peace, to end this decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine, is ending the war, is no further occupation, is no further terror. This is the only way to peace," Baerbock stated. The conflict has escalated since Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken. In response, Israel's military actions have reportedly led to over 60,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

When asked if Israel's actions in Gaza reflect the UN's inability to influence its member states, Baerbock responded, "It's never pointless ... what we have achieved is that humanitarian aid could come in. If the conclusion would be that we don't need the UN anymore, this would also mean there is no humanitarian assistance."

Baerbock asserted that no country would be better off without the UN. "Even in the darkest hours ... it's the responsibility for those countries who have the great chance to live in peace, not to give up, not to resign, but to try even harder," she said.

Another pressing issue for member states is the potential financial crisis facing the UN. In August, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to cut $4.9 billion from foreign aid programs, which could significantly impact the UN's operations. Earlier this year, the U.S. withdrew from several UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council and UNESCO. Reports indicate that the UN may need to eliminate nearly 7,000 jobs and reduce its budget by 20 percent by 2026 to address funding shortfalls from the U.S.

Baerbock warned that these cuts would affect peacekeeping and the World Food Programme. "It would be a disaster ... this is a very critical moment," she said. "We are really at a crossroad to underline that we need ongoing support politically and financially."

Baerbock is the first European woman to serve as president of the UN General Assembly and only the fifth woman in the role's history. With UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres set to complete his term in December 2026, the search for his successor is underway. Baerbock expressed her desire for a female candidate, stating, "It's not a very normal situation that in eight decades the international community was not capable of finding one woman ... we have potentially 4 billion candidates ... who will be the face of this institution in the upcoming years?"

She emphasized the importance of credibility, noting that half of the global population is women.