ShieldField

...Diplomacy creates the space for dialogue and security protects that space.

Every high level diplomatic engagement involves people, information, movement, access and sensitive decisions. That is why protocol and security cannot operate in isolation.

Protocol structures the engagement, while security protects the engagement. Together, they create the conditions for diplomacy to work.

Protocol is not just about ceremony, it is part of the security architecture of diplomacy.

Seating Chart at the Super Intelligence Luncheon with Donald J. Trump

It takes a deep understanding of protocol, precedence, power and influence to make a seating arrangement work at a gathering of global business leaders shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence, now referred to as “Super Intelligence” in a recent US executive order.

This is not just a seating chart, it is the outcome of strategic protocol decisions informed by protocol intelligence.

- Who sits next to whom?
- Who sits closest to the principal?
- Who has direct access?

Every position communicates something.

Protocol is not an afterthought, it is a strategic tool for managing access, relationships, influence and institutional credibility.

The seating chart is only what we see, but intelligence behind it is where the real protocol work happens.

Protocol is not logistics. Protocol is tool of leadership and power.

On September 29, Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence.”

The order directs US executive branch departments and agencies to use:

“Super Intelligence” or “SI” instead of: “Artificial Intelligence” or “AI”.

His Excellency Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel, PhD, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Belgium, has formally presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, in a ceremony held at the Royal Palace of Brussels on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria

UNGA 81 | The Protocol and Diplomacy Brief

Day 5 | 26 September 2026

Day 5 of the General Debate brought several strong themes to the floor of the United Nations.

The message was clear across many interventions:

The international system is under pressure, but governments are still arguing for multilateral cooperation, reform and stronger respect for international law.

Here are the key highlights:

• China:Vice President Han Zheng called for the post Second World War international order and the UN centred system to be protected. He stressed dialogue over unilateral military action, stronger representation for the Global South, development cooperation and people centred AI governance.

• India:Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar focused on the global consequences of conflicts, maritime security, energy and food security, terrorism, development and the growing importance of AI. He also called for a more representative multilateral system.

• Germany: Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul placed artificial intelligence at the centre of his intervention, asking who controls powerful technologies, who establishes the rules and who is accountable. He argued that AI governance requires international cooperation.

• Canada: Foreign Minister Anita Anand described the global order as facing a “rupture” rather than simply a transition. Canada emphasised strategic autonomy, diversified partnerships, Arctic security, Ukraine, maritime security, AI and reform of multilateral institutions.

• Iceland: Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir delivered one of the day's most direct interventions on international law. She argued that international law cannot apply only when it is convenient and challenged leaders to uphold accountability consistently. She also addressed Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, maritime security, human rights, climate change and AI.

She also used the phrase that attracted significant attention:

“We have heard the words ‘moral cowards’ from this podium.”

She then applied the phrase to leaders who, in her view, refuse negotiations for lasting peace, deny humanitarian access or repeatedly disregard international law.

• Jamaica: Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith connected multilateralism with the practical vulnerability of small states. She argued that the answer to weaknesses in the multilateral system is reform rather than abandonment. Climate resilience, disaster financing and AI governance were also major themes.

• Zambia: Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe linked trust in the international system with development financing, climate adaptation, youth, education, technology and reform of the Security Council, including stronger African representation.

• Indonesia: Foreign Minister Sugiono centred his remarks on national and collective resilience, food and energy security, diplomacy, regional cooperation and rebuilding trust in multilateralism

UNGA 81 continues today after a Sunday break.

UNGA 81 | The Protocol and Diplomacy Brief

Day 4 | 25 September 2026

The fourth day of the UN General Assembly General Debate continued to highlight the deep connections between conflict, diplomacy, development and climate.

Key takeaways:

• Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for diplomacy to address conflicts in the Middle East and addressed Palestine, Kashmir, relations with India, terrorism, climate change and UN reform.

• Lebanon: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam focused on Lebanon's sovereignty, security and the wider regional situation.

• Saint Lucia: Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre placed climate change and climate finance at the centre of his address, stressing the impact on small island developing states.

• Iraq and other states: Regional security, sovereignty, development and international cooperation remained important themes.

• Pandemic preparedness: A separate high level meeting focused on strengthening international preparedness and cooperation for future pandemics.

One theme is becoming increasingly clear at UNGA 81.The issues confronting governments are becoming more interconnected.

Conflict affects development.
Climate affects security.
Debt affects development.

And global crises increasingly require international cooperation.The question is no longer simply how individual countries respond to these challenges.

It is also whether the international system has the capacity to respond collectively.

UNGA 81 continues.

UNGA 81 | The Protocol and Diplomacy Brief

Day 3 | 24 September 2026

The third day of the High Level General Debate brought strong positions on Palestine, sovereignty, international security, development and reform of global institutions.

Some of the key messages:

• State of Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Assembly by video, focusing on Palestinian statehood, the situation in Gaza and the continued pursuit of a two state solution.

• Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly defended Israel's position and challenged international criticism of its actions.

• Nigeria: Vice President Kashim Shettima delivered Nigeria's national statement, placing strong emphasis on reform of global governance and greater African representation on the UN Security Council.

• Ghana and other African states: Development, peace, sovereignty and Africa's role in international decision making remained important themes.

• Across the day's interventions, leaders returned repeatedly to international law, sovereignty, conflict, development and the need for a more representative multilateral system.

One thing is becoming increasingly clear as UNGA 81 progresses.The debate is not only about individual conflicts. It is also about the structure of the international system itself.

- Who has influence?
- Who has representation?
- Who makes decisions?
- Who carries the greatest burden when the international system fails to act?

These questions are becoming increasingly difficult to separate from the major diplomatic issues being discussed in New York.

UNGA 81 continues.

I will continue following the major speeches and developments from a protocol and diplomatic perspective.

Kashim Shettima Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at UNGA 81.

Today, I delivered Nigeria’s position at the ongoing 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, calling for a radical shake-up of the United Nations (UN).

I warned that the continent can no longer afford to fill the Council’s agenda from the margins, as the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945.

Specifically, I demanded at least two permanent seats for the continent—including full rights, responsibilities, and veto power—along with a total of five non-permanent seats.

UNGA 81 | The Protocol and Security Interface

One thing I have been watching closely during UNGA 2026 is the relationship between protocol and security, and this is what we call the protocol and security interface.

At this level of diplomacy, the two cannot operate as separate functions. The truth is they have never been two separate functions. They are part of one operational system...This aptly reinforces the insights I shared last week at September webinar of Protocol & Diplomacy International - Protocol Officers Association on the topic "The Critical Role of Protocol in Mega Events and High-Level Security"

Look at the environment surrounding UNGA:

Heads of state and government.
Foreign ministers.
Large diplomatic delegations.
Bilateral meetings.
Motorcades.
Restricted access.
Media movements.
Credentialing and screening.
High level receptions.
Sensitive diplomatic engagements.

Every one creates both a protocol requirement and a security consideration. But there is one area that needs serious attention.

Information; Protocol professionals often hold information that can help explain the security picture in relation to

Who is attending, where they will be, when they will arrive, who they will meet, how they will move, where they will sit, which access points they will use, which engagements are taking place and when.

All these are not simply administrative information, but an operational information (intelligence). However, this does not mean protocol officers should classify everything as intelligence or start performing security functions.

It only means we need to understand the security value and sensitivity of the information we handle. We also need to know what should be shared, with whom, when it should be shared and through which approved channels. And it is the point protocol becomes part of the information security conversation.

At UNGA, where multiple high level engagements run simultaneously and movements change throughout the day, information can move quickly across protocol, security, missions, venues, transport and event teams.

If those information flows are poorly managed, the risk is not simply confusion. It can affect access, movement, protection and operational decision making.

This is why I have continually posited, protocol professionals should understand security and
Security professionals should understand protocol. And both need to understand not just the information that sits between them, but the interface that connects them as one system.

At the highest level of international engagement, information is not just something protocol manages. Information can be part of the security environment.

UNGA 2026 is a live reminder of that.

UNGA 2026 is underway in New York.

The opening day has already produced several major themes:

• Guterres: war, inequality, climate change and AI are four defining tests for the international system.

• Trump: Iran, Ukraine, AI, UN reform and US foreign policy dominated his address.

• Lula: national sovereignty, democratic processes, multilateralism and UN Security Council reform.

• Macron: Gaza, the credibility of the international community and the two state solution.

• Erdoğan: reform of the UN and restoring trust in multilateral cooperation.

• Vietnam's To Lam: rising risks from conflict, nuclear weapons and emerging technologies.

Beyond the speeches, the real diplomatic activity is also happening through bilateral meetings, negotiations and engagements around the General Assembly.

UNGA 81 is therefore more than a series of speeches.

It is a live picture of how governments are positioning themselves on war, diplomacy, technology, climate, security and global governance.

And that makes it particularly relevant to anyone working in protocol and diplomacy.