World Leaders Forum

Indonesia's Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, joining the annual general debate in New York. The address comes as world leaders take the stage to outline their countries' positions on international security, development and multilateral cooperation. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest nation and a founding member of ASEAN, traditionally uses the forum to press for reform of global governance and stronger representation of developing countries.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino addressed the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University, discussing Panama's sovereignty, migration and climate change. His remarks come as the Panama Canal, migration through the Darién Gap and climate pressures remain central issues in US-Panama relations, drawing attention to how the small Central American nation navigates major global powers and environmental challenges.

Costa Rica's Permanent Representative to the United Nations addressed the General Assembly during its 81st session debate. The country used the annual high-level forum to set out its positions before the 193 member states, a traditional fixture of the September gathering at UN headquarters in New York. Costa Rica, which abolished its army in 1948, typically emphasizes disarmament, human rights and multilateralism in its UN statements.

Speakers at the World Leaders Forum, held at Columbia University, took part in a panel titled 'AI + Culture', discussing the growing influence of artificial intelligence on society and the arts. The conversation centred on the 'democratization' of AI — the idea that powerful AI tools are becoming widely accessible — and what that means for culture, creativity and global leadership.