El Salvador's President Bukele Absent from 80th UN General Assembly, Labels Proceedings 'Pointless'

San Salvador – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador announced his decision to skip the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, declaring the annual international gathering "pointless" this year. The Salvadoran leader conveyed his sentiments via social media, advising others to watch his previous year's speech "if you feel like wasting time the way I did," referring to his 2024 (likely 2023) address. His absence marks a notable departure from the high-level diplomatic event.

Bukele's decision comes amidst a backdrop of significant global challenges, which the 2025 UNGA, themed "Better Together," aimed to address. The President of the 80th session, Annalena Baerbock, acknowledged the widespread perception of the UN as "outdated, irrelevant" while defending its crucial role in navigating crises such as those in Gaza, Ukraine, and Haiti. Other world leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, also voiced criticisms regarding the UN's effectiveness during the 2025 session.

The Salvadoran President's last major address to the UNGA in 2023 focused on themes of national sovereignty and the right of nations to chart their own course without external imposition. In that speech, he emphasized El Salvador's transformation and progress through self-determination. His current "pointless" remark suggests a continued skepticism about the efficacy of multilateral forums in addressing national priorities or global issues.

Bukele's government has recently enacted controversial constitutional amendments in 2025, allowing for indefinite presidential re-election, extending presidential terms from five to six years, and eliminating the two-round electoral system. These changes have drawn international scrutiny regarding democratic norms. Furthermore, El Salvador's ambitious experiment with Bitcoin as legal tender, a key policy championed by Bukele, has been largely unsuccessful by 2025, according to reports.

The President's non-attendance at the UNGA highlights a growing trend among some leaders to disengage from traditional diplomatic platforms, preferring to focus on domestic agendas or bilateral relations. His public statement underscores a perceived disconnect between the discussions held at the UN and tangible global progress, reflecting a sentiment shared by a segment of the international community.