Terminator, State Control Of Arms And The 'Annihilate' Remark: Key Moments From The U.N. General Assembly

At the U.N. General Assembly in New York, leaders tackled a range of urgent global issues—from climate risks highlighted by island nations to warnings about emerging weapons technologies. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore also attended events during New York Climate Week, underscoring the heightened attention to climate diplomacy.

Austrian Warning On Autonomous Weapons

Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Austria's Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, used a cultural reference to underscore a modern danger: the fictional "Terminator" may be cinema, but autonomous weapon systems are real and growing in capability. She argued that machines cannot understand surrender or mercy, cannot be held accountable in court, and therefore must never have the final authority to decide who lives or dies.

Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

"Machines are gaining more freedom to find and strike targets. But a machine cannot understand surrender nor mercy. It cannot face a court or answer for a death. It must never have the final say over who lives and who dies." — Beate Meinl-Reisinger

Meinl-Reisinger urged the creation of international rules to prohibit machines from making life-or-death decisions.

State Control Over Weapons: Lebanon And Iraq

Several leaders pushed for governments to retain exclusive authority over weapons and decisions of war and peace as both Lebanon and Iraq confront armed non-state groups.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Beirut must "reclaim our decision," insisting that no weapons or wartime choices should lie outside state institutions. He stressed that Lebanon intends to negotiate independently rather than have its conflict folded into external talks.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Baghdad's priority is to keep weapons under constitutional institutions and pledged efforts to strengthen the rule of law while disarming active armed groups.

Maldives' Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Calls For Female Leadership At The U.N.

Delegates across the Assembly noted that the United Nations has never been led by a woman and urged change. Hussain Muhammad Latif, Vice President of the Maldives, called for a leader who will defend the U.N. Charter, deliver meaningful reform, and listen to all member states, including the smallest.

Ghanaian President Responds To 'Annihilate' Comment

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama appeared to address remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting he might "annihilate" Iran. Mahama said, "No human civilization deserves to be annihilated, and certainly not a member of the United Nations."

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

"If anybody proposes a concept of annihilating a civilization, it's anathema to me. ... No civilization deserves to be annihilated. That's it, period." — John Dramani Mahama

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations later, Mahama emphasized that his comment reflected a broader historical perspective and a rejection of calls to destroy civilizations.

Contributions: Jennifer McDermott in New York and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut.