National Interest

by Brett D. Schaefer

    With US financial leverage at a zenith, President Trump has the chance to remake international institutions.

    This Tuesday, President Donald Trump will address the United Nations General Assembly for the fifth time. In previous addresses, President Trump has signaled policies and priorities that have had great implications for the United Nations—this year, one should expect no different.

    In 2017, Trump presaged his decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. In 2018, he repudiated the International Criminal Court. In 2019, he called open border policies “cruel and evil” and doubled down on his demands for “fair” trade deals. In a prerecorded address during the COVID pandemic in 2020, he sharply criticized the World Health Organization and demanded accountability for China.

    These speeches clarified the policies of his first term and set the stage for early decisions in his second. His fifth speech may offer clarity on the US relationship with the UN, which is ambiguous pending the result of a review of US involvement with international organizations. As in previous speeches, Trump will probably highlight what he sees as successes, including various trade deals, interventions to end foreign conflicts and securing the US border.

    He will also discuss his foreign policy priorities. In the Middle East, the president undoubtedly will call for the release of Israeli hostages and criticize the effort by France and other European countries to recognize a Palestinian state as a reward for Hamas terrorism. The president is also eager to finalize a deal with China that he can tout in New York. Hopefully, he will warn Russia about testing NATO and announce new sanctions in coordination with European allies.

    But the biggest question for many in the audience will be the future of US engagement with many parts of the UN system.

    The US Mission to the United Nations gave a preview. While noting the value of the United Nations in convening nations to address international challenges, the US Mission asserted, “The UN has at times strayed from its original mandate. Now is the time for bold reform. The United Nations must return to its core purposes.”

    Specifically, the United States called on the UN to focus on preserving international peace and preventing conflict through “transparent, accountable and results-driven” peacekeeping; respect the sovereignty and independence of the member states and avoid “imposing burdensome regulations or policies that stifle innovation, impede economic growth, or infringe on national decision-making;” and defend “natural and unalienable rights” especially the “freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly and religion.”

    Assuming the president’s speech will expound on these themes, President Trump will find a rapt audience.

    President Trump has taken unprecedented steps in reevaluating America’s relationship with the United Nations. Earlier this year, he withdrew from several UN organizations, including UNESCO and the World Health Organization. He ended US support and engagement with the Human Rights Council and the Palestinian humanitarian organization UNRWA. In February, Trump launched a comprehensive review of US membership in all international organizations and multilateral treaties.

    The review was supposed to be concluded in early August, but if it is indeed on schedule, the results have not been publicly announced. UN organizations and other governments are on pins and needles.

    If the president wants to make news in his speech, nothing will shake the UN world more than announcing before the UN General Assembly which UN organizations the United States will remain engaged with, which it will withdraw from and what reforms and changes the US requires to resume funding for others.

    US financial leverage is at a maximum. The United States has caused financial stress throughout the UN system by withholding and delaying funding, causing UN organizations and governments to worry about the impact on international programs and initiatives that they deem valuable. As a result, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the UN80 reform initiative, aimed at reducing costs, increasing efficiency and reducing waste.

    Other governments are eager for the United States to reengage. President Trump is positioned to demand fundamental reforms in return for restoring US funding. But the administration has not publicly conveyed the specifics of its desired changes.

    If Washington wants to see the UN return to its core purposes and implement fundamental reform, the time is ripe. There is no better time, place, or venue for the president to lay out his vision than during his speech next week.