Theresa P. Lazaro, shown in her official 2025 portrait, will lead the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. canceled his attendance. (Official DFA photo)MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Week later this month, Malacañang confirmed on Monday, September 15, 2025. The annual High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly is a crucial forum for world leaders to present national priorities, strengthen alliances, and discuss global challenges, including security, economic recovery, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Marcos’ absence means the Philippines will miss an opportunity for direct presidential-level diplomacy at a time when regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific remain high. Still, with Secretary Lazaro at the helm of the delegation, Manila is expected to push forward its positions on maritime security, multilateral cooperation, and economic partnerships, ensuring continuity in the country’s foreign policy direction.