What did Yamandú Orsi actually say in his UNGA speech?

Yamandú Orsi is the 43rd President of Uruguay, in office since, and he arrived at the 81st UN General Assembly as a leader who has built his entire international brand around the same three ideas: peace, democratic stability, and multilateralism, meaning the idea that countries solve problems together through institutions like the UN rather than through raw bilateral power.

At his debut UNGA address, which took place at the 80th session, the AS/COA tracker and the UN's own press summary give the clearest picture of what he said and how he said it. He opened with the declaration that "Uruguay is recognized worldwide for its commitment to peace," and throughout his remarks promoted his country's lack of political polarization and its reputation for social and macroeconomic stability as a model for multilateral negotiation.

He told the Assembly that it is now common practice in Uruguay for a president to travel to neighboring countries accompanied by predecessors from other political parties, and added, "I come from a country whose president can walk among the people without bodyguards, and can enjoy a football match in the stands of a stadium like any other supporter." That was not a boast; it was an argument: democratic normalcy, he was saying, is itself a form of soft power and a proof of concept for the rest of the world.

He acknowledged that Uruguay is not paradise and faces challenges in child poverty, public security and social inequality, but argued that the historical strength of its institutions has allowed the country to stand out in the region for its level of human development and income distribution.

He bemoaned the reduced financing for international aid and development programs, and said that the "principles of liberty and equality are increasingly divorced," warning that the world hears more about individual freedom than about egalitarian societies when it comes to income and rights.

He echoed the recurring anti-war messages of the session, called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, backed a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and, noting Uruguay's record as the Latin American country that has contributed the most troops to UN peacekeeping missions, offered Uruguay as "a host for negotiations."

Heading into today's 81st session address, Orsi also holds the presidency pro tempore of CELAC, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, a regional body that coordinates positions across 33 countries, a role he assumed in March 2026. That gives him a platform beyond Uruguay, and it is reasonable to expect the themes of regional unity and multilateral reform to run through today's speech as they did his first.

Full coverage of what he said this morning should be on the UN's official debate page at gadebate.un.org once the summary is posted.