The themes of the 193-member General Assembly agenda include trade wars, migration, energy supplies, climate change, and poverty eradication. The actions of the Trump administration, which has shown disregard for international institutions like the United Nations, are a common factor influencing discussions. US policy is a major topic of interest among leaders, with some notable absences such as Presidents Xi Jinping of China, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. However, only one notable figure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine, is expected to be in attendance. Zelenskiy plans to meet with President Donald Trump amidst concerns that Trump pressured him on US domestic political matters. Some of the most significant moments and confrontations are likely to occur early in the week. Specifically, leaders like Bolsonaro, Trump, El-Sissi, and Erdogan, who share similar views, will be present. Trump, known for his bombastic style and controversial statements, will be surrounded by like-minded leaders such as Bolsonaro, who is often compared to Trump and shares his dismissive attitude towards climate change and critics on social media. Following Trump is President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, who has become a symbol of the repression seen during the Arab Spring uprisings, although recent protests have cast doubt on his leadership. Next is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, known for his authoritarian ways and crackdown on journalists. The United States and Saudi Arabia are gearing up to present their case against Iran, with hopes of meeting President Hassan Rouhani dashed after the recent attack on Saudi oil facilities, which US and Saudi officials blame on Iran. US officials are set to present evidence linking Iran to the attack using drones and cruise missiles. Iran has rejected the accusation, with Yemen's Houthi rebels claiming responsibility. Rouhani is expected to blame Trump for starting the conflict by pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal and imposing harsh sanctions. The US is working on forming a coalition to deter Iran, but the exact nature of this deterrence is uncertain. The General Assembly allows the administration to focus on building coalitions and applying political and economic pressure instead of rushing into a military response, according to Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Washington will not be present at a climate change meeting, as the United States has no plans to address the issue after withdrawing from the Paris Agreement in 2017. However, some state governors from the US Climate Alliance will attend the summit. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is set to meet with Chinese officials, potentially paving the way for resumed trade negotiations. The two governments have recently halted their increasing tariff dispute, but some officials within the administration are advocating for Trump to address other sensitive issues with China. These issues include the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, the suppression of Tibetans, and the detainment of over a million Muslims, primarily ethnic Uighurs. One official suggested that Trump should at least denounce China for attempting to intimidate Uighur-American activists. Trump has never been vocal about human rights concerns and has openly praised Xi and other authoritarian leaders. However, members of Congress from both parties are urging Trump to take action. The bills targeting the Uighurs, Tibet, and Hong Kong are designed to push President Trump and his administration to adopt tougher positions. Japan and South Korea's leaders are currently not on speaking terms due to a longstanding feud stemming from Japan's wartime occupation. This feud has resulted in reduced trade relations and the termination of an intelligence-sharing agreement. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea are not scheduled to meet. It is uncertain if Trump can facilitate a three-way discussion between them. Progress on the shared objective of North Korea's nuclear disarmament may be limited. During the General Assembly, Moon is expected to encourage Trump to resume diplomatic efforts with Kim Jong Un, although no high-ranking North Korean officials are scheduled to attend. There will be pressure on Europe to impose penalties on Venezuela's government, with foreign ministers from 18 Western Hemisphere nations, including the US, set to convene to address the situation. The focus will be on persuading the European Union to increase economic sanctions on Maduro's supporters, such as freezing their assets in Europe. There may also be a push for Europe to penalize those involved in smuggling Venezuelan gold into the continent. Despite facing calls for his resignation from Venezuela's opposition led by Juan Guaidó, Maduro, who claimed victory in disputed elections last year, remains in power amidst the country's economic collapse and mass migration crisis. Talks between the opposing factions in Venezuela broke down last week, creating tensions between the United States and Turkey. Trump and Erdogan are set to have a meeting on the sidelines, but the result is uncertain. Several challenging matters have caused conflict between their administrations. The Trump government is contemplating imposing sanctions on Turkey, a fellow NATO member, for purchasing a Russian S-400 missile defense system instead of American-made Patriots. Erdogan, on the other hand, has shown increasing frustration towards the United States for their collaboration in northern Syria, which shares a border with Turkey. He mentions that the Americans have not succeeded in creating a secure zone big enough to prevent Kurdish fighters from entering Turkey, which views them as terrorist rebels. Erdogan issued a warning on Saturday that his troops would take independent actions along the border if the United States did not intervene by the end of the month. Lastly, Afghanistan is the final country to address the General Assembly, following the breakdown of talks between the Taliban and the United States to end the long-standing war. President Ashraf Ghani, who has national elections approaching, was not anticipated to be present. The delegation from Afghanistan will be headed by Hamdullah Mohib, the national security adviser to Ashraf, instead. Mohib angered the Trump administration in March by stating that the peace talks would not result in peace.