Trump’s UN Speech Signals Troubling US Pullback from Global Alliances

Trump: As world leaders struggle with issues ranging from Gaza to Ukraine and wonder whether the US, with its “America First” foreign policy, is still ready to take the lead in international affairs, U.S. President Donald Trump will speak to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.

Trump has completely changed U.S. foreign policy since he took office in January. He has cut foreign assistance, imposed tariffs on both allies and adversaries, and cultivated closer, if tense, ties with Russia.

At the same time, he has attempted—so far with little success—to resolve some of the most unsolvable disputes in the world.

The chamber is set to hear speeches from over 150 leaders of state or government this week, including Trump, who is the second planned speaker. The session begins at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).

Trump’s Second Term Sees Aid Cuts, UN Faces Uncertainty

Trump is eight months into his second term, which has been characterized by drastic cutbacks to assistance that have caused humanitarian concerns and cast doubt on the viability of the United Nations, leading U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to attempt to reduce expenses and increase efficiency.
White House officials have not yet offered any predictions about Trump’s speech.

However, the Trump administration intends to ask this week for a drastic reduction in the right to refuge in an effort to reverse the post-World War II framework of humanitarian protection, according to planning papers that Reuters examined.

According to a State Department official, Trump’s more stringent policies would require asylum-seekers to declare protection in the first country they visit, rather than the country of their choice. It is anticipated that Guterres and Trump will have their first official meeting since Trump took office again in January.
The U.N. has “great potential,” according to Trump, but it has to “get its act together.” His cautious approach to multilateralism, which characterized his first term from 2017 to 2021, has persisted, and he has also said that the international organization has not assisted him in his attempts to mediate peace in a number of crises.

A PALESTINIAN STATE CALL

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas nears its second anniversary on October 7, the General Assembly convenes. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, is scheduled to speak before the General Assembly on Friday.
On Monday, dozens of international leaders came together to support the creation of a Palestinian state, a historic diplomatic move that Israel and its close ally the United States strongly oppose.

Following the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel that left almost 1,200 people dead, the far-rightest government in Israel’s history has stated that there will never be a Palestinian state as it continues to combat Hamas in Gaza.

Over 65,000 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have sparked international outrage, according to local health officials.
The General Assembly will also hear speeches from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy and U.S. President are scheduled to meet Tuesday.

Along with the multilateral meeting with the presidents of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, the U.S. president will also meet bilaterally with Javier Milei of Argentina.