An international summit is a gathering of leaders from various countries and sectors to discuss important topics, make agreements and inspire action. They can focus on a variety of issues, from cybersecurity and sustainable use of outer space to education and global governance. A successful summit will likely feature a combination of high-level talks and interactive workshops.
The 2025 Summit is expected to focus on a number of hot-button issues, including ensuring a safe information ecosystem and creating an international response playbook in the event of cyberwarfare. It may also examine new defence spending commitments to tackle ongoing Russian aggression and discuss ways to promote responsible management of digital technologies. In addition, the Summit will likely explore how to develop international cooperation on education for sustainable development, with a specific emphasis on developing low-performing education systems.
Most statements noted the impact of multiple serious conflicts around the world, with several speakers lamenting that global peace and security are more under threat than at any time since World War II. In particular, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Gaza genocide were singled out for attention.
Many speakers emphasized the importance of the Summit in hitting the restart button for charting a more inclusive, fair and rules-based global system. They urged this generation to follow the example of previous generations who dismantled slavery, acted to stop genocide and granted women the vote, and reaffirmed that the SDGs can only be achieved with the full empowerment of women and youth.