UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated US President Donald Trump on his re-election, pledging the United Nations’ readiness to work “constructively” with his administration despite Trump’s previous criticism of the UN’s work.
In his statement, Guterres underscored the importance of US-UN cooperation, calling it “an essential pillar of international relations.” He noted that the UN is prepared to collaborate with the Trump administration to address pressing global challenges. “I commend the people of the United States of America for their active participation in the democratic process,” he added.
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Trump’s skeptical stance on multilateralism, along with his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Accord and UNESCO, marked a clear departure from traditional American foreign policy. Nonetheless, Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, downplayed any rift, emphasizing that Guterres and Trump maintained “very good relations.”
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“The Secretary-General expressed his opinions; the US administration had its policies,” Dujarric explained. “This did not prevent engagement between the Secretary-General and the US government, just as prior Secretaries-General have done.”
The United States remains the UN’s largest financial contributor, funding 22% of its annual budget and 26% of its peacekeeping operations. With the US as the world’s top greenhouse gas emitter, Guterres emphasized in an interview with The Guardian that while the Paris Agreement could survive without US participation, its departure could “cripple” the pact’s goals.
Trump campaigned on a pledge to reverse climate measures set by President Biden, supporting increased oil and gas drilling and minimizing environmental regulations.
A potential return to Trump’s “America First” policy at the UN may resemble the approach of former US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley. On her first day in office, Haley boldly asserted, “Our goal is to show value at the UN by showing our strength and our full voice.” Haley also warned the 193-member UN body, “For those who don’t have our backs, we’re taking names and will respond accordingly.”
After two years, Haley resigned and later made an unsuccessful attempt at the Republican presidential nomination, underscoring the evolving US-UN relationship under the Trump administration.