Reflections on the United Nations General Assembly: The Power of Cities and Collaboration

This week marks my fourth United Nations General Assembly, but this year, I’m attending as a spectator.

After years of representing New York City as Commissioner for International Affairs, it’s a rare gift to observe the gathering from a distance and simply appreciate the choreography of diplomacy that defines this moment each year. The General Assembly is more than a convening of nations; it’s a living network of relationships. Beneath the speeches and motorcades lies something quieter and more enduring, the work of people and institutions choosing collaboration over competition.

I remain deeply grateful for the years I had the privilege to serve New York. That experience affirmed for me that diplomacy is no longer the sole province of foreign ministries. Cities have become essential actors on the world stage, agile, pragmatic, and deeply connected to the daily realities that global policies seek to address. This is the essence of subnational diplomacy: cities forging partnerships that deliver tangible results, whether through climate adaptation, technology exchange, or cultural understanding.

In New York’s case, this meant acting as both a laboratory and a bridge. By connecting local innovation to global challenges, we could turn abstract goals into measurable progress, from piloting new climate technologies to hosting dialogues that united private enterprise and public purpose. At its best, city diplomacy transforms ambition into action, translating the language of global cooperation into solutions that directly improve people’s lives.

This week, I take pride in watching my former colleagues at the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs continue this wor, advancing technology policy, fostering climate resilience, and ensuring New York remains a trusted partner to the world. Their leadership reminds us that even in an era of uncertainty, collaboration remains our most reliable path forward.

As UNGA unfolds, I find myself reflecting not just on what is said in the halls of the United Nations, but on what is built beyond them. The partnerships forged at the city level often outlast headlines, steady, practical alliances that remind us how interconnected our futures truly are.

Even from the sidelines, I am inspired by how New York continues to lead with openness, creativity, and resolve, proving that diplomacy, in all its forms, still begins at the local level.