The key 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 a lack of respect for international institutions like the United Nations, are a central focus. Many leaders, such as Xi Jinping of China, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, are not attending the assembly. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine is the only prominent figure confirmed to attend the event. Zelenskiy is set to meet with President Donald Trump amidst concerns that Trump may have pressured him regarding US political matters. The most significant moments and potential confrontations are expected to take place early in the week. A group of like-minded leaders, including Bolsonaro, Trump, El-Sissi, and Erdogan, will be speaking during the event. Trump, known for his bombastic and controversial style, will be in familiar company on Tuesday as he is preceded by Bolsonaro, who is often compared to Trump and shares similar views on climate change and criticism. Following Trump is President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, a former general who has become a symbol of the suppression of the Arab Spring uprisings, although his leadership was questioned due to recent protests. Next is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, known for his authoritarian tactics and harsh treatment of critics, including imprisoning journalists. The United States and Saudi Arabia are set to make their case against Iran, as there were talks of a historic meeting between Trump and President Hassan Rouhani of Iran before the recent attack on Saudi oil facilities on Sept 14, which US and Saudi officials attribute to Iran. US officials are expected to present evidence that Iran conducted 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 nuclear agreement and imposing harsh sanctions. The US is working to form a coalition to prevent Iran, though the specifics of this deterrent are unknown. The General Assembly allows the administration to focus on building coalitions and applying political and economic pressure instead of rushing into military action, according to Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Washington will not be present at a climate change meeting where about 60 heads of state are expected to speak about initiatives such as net-zero carbon emissions in buildings. The United States, under Trump's administration, has announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change. However, some state governors from the US Climate Alliance will attend the summit. In addition, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is set to meet with Chinese officials to potentially improve the atmosphere for resumed trade negotiations. The recent pause in the tariff battle between the two governments has led some administration officials to urge Trump to address other sensitive issues with China, such as the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, the repression of Tibetans, and the detention of over 1 million Muslims, primarily ethnic Uighurs. One official believes Trump should at least speak out against China's attempts to intimidate Uighur-American activists. Trump has not been vocal about human rights in the past and has shown admiration for authoritarian leaders like Xi. However, lawmakers from both parties in Congress are urging Trump to take action. The bills concerning the Uighurs, Tibet, and Hong Kong are intended to push Trump and his administration to take stronger stances. The leaders of Japan and South Korea are currently not speaking to each other due to a long-standing conflict stemming from Japan's wartime occupation. This has resulted in strained trade relations and the termination of an intelligence-sharing agreement. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Moon Jae-in are not anticipated to have a meeting. It is uncertain if Trump can bring them together for a three-way discussion. The shared goal of North Korea's nuclear disarmament may not see any significant advancements. During the General Assembly, Moon is expected to encourage Trump to resume diplomatic efforts with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. However, no high-ranking North Korean officials are scheduled to attend the event. In addition, European nations will face pressure to impose sanctions on Venezuela's government. Foreign ministers from 18 countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the US, are set to convene to discuss possible actions against Maduro, whose leadership has led to Venezuela's worst economic collapse and a regional crisis due to mass emigration. Efforts will be made to persuade the European Union to increase economic sanctions against Maduro's supporters, potentially including freezing their assets in Europe. There may also be a call for sanctions against those involved in smuggling Venezuelan gold into Europe. Despite facing demands for his resignation for nine months, Maduro, who claimed victory in disputed elections last year, has managed to hold onto power amidst ongoing opposition led by Juan Guaidó, president of Venezuela's Parliament. Negotiations between the Venezuelan rivals broke down last week, causing tensions between America and Turkey. Trump and Erdogan are set to meet, but the result is uncertain. Several challenging issues have strained relations between their governments. The Trump administration is contemplating imposing sanctions on Turkey, a NATO ally, for purchasing a Russian S-400 missile defense system instead of American-made Patriots. Erdogan is increasingly frustrated with the United States over their joint operations in northern Syria, near the Turkish border. He claims that the United States has not been successful in creating a safe zone large enough to prevent Kurdish fighters from entering Turkey, which views them as terrorist rebels. Erdogan issued a warning on Saturday, stating that Turkish forces would take action along the border if the US did not intervene by the end of the month. Lastly, Afghanistan will be the final country to address the General Assembly, following the breakdown of peace talks between the Taliban and the US. President Ashraf Ghani is not expected to attend due to upcoming national elections. Afghanistan's delegation will be led by Hamdullah Mohib, the national security adviser to Ashraf, instead. Mohib angered the Trump administration back in March when he forecasted that the peace talks would not result in peace.