Inside massive security operation that secured 80th UN General Assembly in New York
Securing the week-long session required vast resources, manpower, and technology, particularly as it occurred during a time of heightened global security challenges.
The annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is widely regarded as the world’s largest diplomatic gathering.
With hundreds of global leaders and dignitaries converging in New York City, extensive security measures are required to safeguard participants at the UN complex, meeting venues, accommodations, and across the city.
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Securing the week-long session required vast resources, manpower, and technology, particularly as it occurred during a time of heightened global security challenges.
According to a brief from the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), at least 800 officers from the Bureau were directly involved in security operations throughout the assembly, which began on September 23 and concluded today.
Some of the officers from the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) who were involved in security operations throughout the 80th UNGA. (Photo: DSS)
DSS personnel
"This year, more than 800 DSS personnel supported security operations, including more than 600 DSS special agents who provided protective security for more than 40 visiting foreign dignitaries, the US Secretary of State, and the US Ambassador to the United Nations during UNGA," noted DSS Public Affairs Specialist Eric Weiner.
The DSS officers collaborated with multiple US federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York Police Department, the US Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and military explosives ordnance canine teams. Together, they secured the New York City area during the high-profile event.
A US Diplomatic Security Service brief said at least 800 officers took part in the assembly’s security operations. (Photo: United Nations)
The DSS brief confirmed that the assembly concluded without incident.
"The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) concluded safely without any security incidents thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. The event exemplified the DSS goal to keep America safe and secure while welcoming its representatives and the world's diplomats," Weiner added.
The DSS officers collaborated with multiple US federal, state and local law enforcement agencies during the 80th UNGA in New York. (Photo: DSS)
Behind the scenes
Much of the operation, according to the brief, was handled behind the scenes by the DSS’s 200 Uniformed Protection Division Officers, Mobile Security Deployments teams, security engineering officers, technical specialists, Navy Seabees, vehicle maintenance personnel, communications and tracking experts, intelligence analysts, and administrative staff who managed logistics support.
"It is truly a team effort that exemplifies America's security in action; clear, coordinated, and unshakable," the statement concluded.
The UN Special Services Unit, which protects visiting dignitaries, also joined the security detail. (Photo: United Nations)
The General Assembly, the UN’s main policy-making organ, brings together representatives from all 193 member states and typically attracts between 140 and 150 heads of state each year.
The UN Special Services Unit, responsible for close protection of visiting dignitaries—including heads of state, government leaders, foreign ministers, and VIPs—also formed part of the security detail.
Much of the security operation during the 80th UNGA was handled behind the scenes. (Photo: DSS)
Biggest diplomatic security operation
"The UN General Assembly is by far the biggest diplomatic security operation in the world. There is no other place on the planet where you have this concentration of Heads of state and dignitaries visiting in one single place, in such a short time period. So that makes the UNGA very unique," said Mr Bjorn Nauf, Captain of the UN Special Services Unit.
Despite the tight security, a few unusual incidents drew attention. President Donald Trump ordered an investigation after an escalator malfunction and a teleprompter failure during the event.
A UN probe found that the escalator’s safety mechanism may have been triggered by President Trump’s videographer, who was moving backwards on the escalator, causing it to stop abruptly just as the president and First Lady were about to step on.
As for the teleprompter mishap, the UN clarified that the equipment belonged to the US delegation and declined to comment further.
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