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Several prominent leaders will deliver in-person speeches at the United Nations General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, including Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a declared Covid skeptic whose mismanagement of the pandemic threatens his political future. Mr Bolsonaro also caused a sensation by promising to challenge the meeting’s vaccination requirement.
Many leaders choose to use a pre-recorded video, as was done last year, or have a lower-ranking representative speak in person, and the absence of a leader from a particular country this year can send a message.
Perhaps the most prominent leader to skip a personal appearance in the General Assembly is Chinese President Xi Jinping, a growing financial contributor to the United Nations and a rival with the United States for influence. there, an underlying source of tension.
Xi had originally planned for his deputy prime minister to represent China, but in a last-minute change released by UN officials on Monday, Xi will address the General Assembly via video prerecorded as last speaker on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin will not be present either and his Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov will speak in his place.
In what could be another sign of France’s anger with the United States over a secret arms deal with Australia, French President Emmanuel Macron has given up on speaking out during the rally, even by video. Instead, he asked his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves LeDrian, to speak, which could now happen on the last day.
Iran’s new president, Ebrahim Raisi, also sent a pre-recorded speech, skipping the opportunity for personal diplomacy that could help save Iran’s near-moribund nuclear deal with the major powers.
Mr Bolsonaro was the first head of state to address the assembly when the speeches began on Tuesday morning. Brazil spoke for the first time since the mid-1950s, and UN protocol officials say the tradition began because at the time no other leader was willing to take on the role. This position is now seen as a coveted niche that can help set the tone for the week.
Other speakers on the first day include the Presidents of Turkey, Mexico, South Korea, Poland and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The order of speakers generally respects the principle that the head of the host country takes second place, followed by other heads of state, heads of government, vice-presidents, crown princes, foreign ministers, then deputies and ambassadors. It is also determined by the date on which each of the 193 members requests it.
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