Will the United Nations Survive Trump 2.0?
A New Era of Unilateralism
Of all the geopolitical stunts Donald Trump has pulled since returning to the White House, the US’s votes at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on March 4 stand out as some of the most revealing.
A Symbolic but Significant Move
First, the US opposed a seemingly innocuous resolution establishing an “International Day of Peaceful Coexistence” and reaffirming the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A Clash of Values
Despite its symbolic nature, the US voted against the resolution, with representative Edward Heartney explaining that the US “rejects and denounces the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and it will no longer reaffirm them as a matter of course”. “Simply put,” he added, “globalist endeavours like Agenda 2030 and the SDGs lost at the ballot box”. Despite US opposition, the resolution ultimately passed with 162 countries voting in favour, two abstaining, and only three – the US, Israel, and Argentina – voting against.
A Pattern of Opposition
Later that day, the US doubled down by opposing UNGA resolutions calling for the establishment of an “International Day of Hope” and an “International Day for Judicial Well-Being”. It was also the sole vote against a resolution reaffirming “the right of everyone to education,” which highlighted “the importance of equal opportunities for young people, including young women,” likely because it conflicted with a pillar of the Trump administration’s domestic agenda: dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
Consequences of US Withdrawal
These moves may well foreshadow America’s withdrawal from the UN – something Elon Musk and other Trump supporters have urged. Trump has already pulled the US out of the World Health Organization and, as he did during his first term, abandoned the Paris climate agreement.
A Shift in Global Politics
His administration has also withdrawn the US from several UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council and the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and is now reassessing its involvement in the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco). It has also exited the ongoing UN Tax Convention negotiations.
Global Consequences
These actions by the US – along with its recent opposition to a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – show that the Trump administration is not merely unhappy with certain international institutions. Rather, it is fundamentally opposed to any multilateral framework that even suggests equality among countries.
A New Era of Global Solidarity
Some analysts argue that a complete US withdrawal from the UN is unlikely, given the disproportionate influence America wields through its Security Council veto. But given Trump’s law-of-the-jungle approach to geopolitics – where raw power, not diplomacy, dictates action – even that advantage may no longer seem essential.
Conclusion
The paradigm shift in US foreign policy does not necessarily signal the impending decline – if not outright collapse – of multilateralism and the UN system. To be sure, the Trump administration has made its preference for unilateralism and coercion abundantly clear, using its power to bully individual countries rather than work through international institutions.
FAQs
* Will the US withdraw from the UN?
While a complete withdrawal is unlikely, the Trump administration is likely to continue to reassess its involvement in international institutions and may withdraw from specific bodies or agreements.
* What are the potential consequences of US withdrawal?
The financial consequences could be immediate and severe, with the US being the UN’s largest financial backer. Other countries may struggle to fill the funding gap, putting critical UN programs at risk.
* Can the UN survive without the US?
While the US is a significant contributor to the UN, other countries can step up to fill the funding gap. The absence of the US could actually pave the way for more ambitious and effective global agreements.
* Is there a silver lining to this crisis?
Yes, the current climate of uncertainty and upheaval could represent a unique opportunity to build a truly international movement for progressive change, driven by a sense of global solidarity and cooperation.