US-UN Relations

Healing America and Restoring Its Standing in the World: An A to Z Guide

• January 14, 2021

The world watched on Jan. 6, 2021, as thousands of the most extreme supporters of President Donald Trump marched on the United States Capitol after hearing his rallying cry to “fight” and “take back” the country. Inside the Capitol, Vice President Mike Pence was presiding over a joint session of Congress to certify the …

Governance, Health and Population, Human Rights, International Justice, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations

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Why the EU Is Hopeful About the UN in 2021: An Interview With Ambassador Olof Skoog

Dulcie Leimbach

• January 12, 2021

Olof Skoog knows the United Nations like the back of his hand. As the European Union ambassador to the world body since 2019, he speaks for the 27-member bloc at the UN headquarters in New York City; most recently, he was Sweden’s envoy to the UN. He is known for his optimism — even …

Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Secretary-General, UN Diplomats, US-UN Relations

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres Says He Will Seek a Second Term

Barbara Crossette

• January 11, 2021

António Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister who has been United Nations secretary-general since January 2017, is seeking a second five-year term in office, beginning Jan. 1, 2022. UN officials confirmed on Jan. 11 that on Friday, Jan. 8, Guterres told the five permanent members of the Security Council of his decision. He also …

Secretary-General, US-UN Relations

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THIS WEEK @UN

Deadly Violence in D.C.; a Beloved UN Diplomat Dies; Fatal Attacks in Niger

Ivana Ramirez

• January 8, 2021

The United States Capitol stormed by pro-Trump rioters; a legendary UN diplomat dies at 101; Islamist jihadists blamed for fatal assault in Niger. You are reading This Week @UN, a summary of the most pressing issues facing the organization. The information is gathered from the UN spokesperson’s press briefings, original reporting and other sources. …

Africa, General Assembly, Libya, Secretary-General, This Week @UN, UN Diplomats, US-UN Relations

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WORLDVIEWS

A New Year’s Hope: Restoring the Progressive Role of the US at the UN

Jessica Neuwirth

• December 28, 2020

A wave of relief and hope is sweeping across the United Nations, and the world, desperately awaiting the inauguration of Joe Biden and the beginning of the restoration of normalcy. Hopefully, we will quickly see the rebuilding of our country’s leadership and much-needed progress in the UN, as well as in other international forums …

Gender Violence, Human Rights, US-UN Relations, WORLDVIEWS

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THIS WEEK @UN

Trump’s Trashing of the Rule of Law; a Christmas in Pakistan; 3 Burundian Peacekeepers Killed

Ivana Ramirez

• December 26, 2020

An A-to-Z list of Trump’s assaults on the rule of law; reactions to the US-Morocco-Western Sahara news; turmoil in the Central African Republic before elections. Happy Boxing Day! You are reading This Week @UN, a summary of the most pressing issues facing the organization. The information is gathered from the UN spokesperson’s press briefings, …

Africa, Health and Population, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Secretary-General, Security Council, This Week @UN, US-UN Relations

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WORLDVIEWS

President Trump’s Attacks on the Rule of Law, From A to Z

Mona Ali Khalil

• December 21, 2020

President Trump’s attacks on the rule of law in his four years in office have ranged from blatant disregard to outright breach of everything from well-established ethical values to universally accepted international norms, from United States laws and regulations to international laws and treaties. As the Trump presidency ends, there is hope that the …

Security Council, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations, WORLDVIEWS

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THIS WEEK @UN

A Covid-19 Vaccine for UN Folks?; Steering Biden to the UN; Guterres Goes to Germany

Ivana Ramirez

• December 18, 2020

Does UN Secretary-General António Guterres deserve another term; as Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out in New York City, what about UN staff and diplomats there; and how far will President-elect Biden go at the UN? You’re reading This Week @UN, a summary of the most-pressing issues facing the international organization. The information is gathered …

Health and Population, Secretary-General, This Week @UN, UN-NY Relations, US-UN Relations

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WORLDVIEWS

How Far Will Biden Go With the UN?

Stephen Schlesinger

• December 16, 2020

As President-elect Joe Biden finds his footing in foreign affairs, one of his foremost challenges will be re-engaging with the United Nations. So far, he has said little about the organization, but he has just appointed a new UN envoy-in-waiting, an experienced and articulate diplomat, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and …

Security Council, US-UN Relations, WORLDVIEWS

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‘He Is Who He Is’: 4 Experts Assess the Record of the UN’s António Guterres

Barbara Crossette

• December 14, 2020

Ever since the day in 1946 when the first secretary-general of the United Nations, Trygve Lie of Norway, took office, big powers have meddled in how the job is done. Most often, the United States has been the most intrusive. Lie resigned in 1953, before the end of his second, shortened term, with his …

Gender Violence, Human Rights, Secretary-General, US-UN Relations

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US Envoy-Designate to the UN Turns the Long-Awaited Spotlight on Africa

Barbara Crossette

• December 7, 2020

When President-elect Joe Biden nominated Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be the next ambassador to the United Nations, he was signaling that American diplomacy would face big changes. If she is confirmed by the Senate in the new year, the UN will have a seasoned, top-rank diplomat in the United States’ Security Council seat, a break …

Africa, Security Council, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations

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THIS WEEK @UN

The US Likes the UN Again; Warnings to Ethiopia; Biden’s Pick for UN Envoy

Dulcie Leimbach

• November 27, 2020

The United States embraces diplomacy again; human-rights warnings in Ethiopia; who is the US nominee for UN ambassador? You are reading This Week @UN, highlighting the most important news on the world body. The information is drawn from the UN spokesperson’s briefings, our original reporting and other sources. We know from diplomats and many other …

Africa, Climate and Environment, Governance, Secretary-General, This Week @UN, US-UN Relations

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The Lingering Side-Effects of Trump’s Assault on Global Health

Irwin Arieff

• November 24, 2020

President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to move quickly once he is in office to reverse Donald Trump’s ill-founded pledge to cut ties to the World Health Organization during a deadly worldwide plague. But it will not be easy for Biden to erase the damage, which will weigh on Washington’s standing in the international health …

Health and Population, US-UN Relations

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Rights Advocates Rejoice as the New Biden Team Is Assembled

Barbara Crossette

• November 23, 2020

Advice is pouring into President-elect Joe Biden from around the United States and across the world on how to turn around the damage the Trump administration has inflicted in key policy areas. Advocates for public health, women’s rights and a semblance of restored American leadership are among those hoping for quick action starting the …

Africa, Climate and Environment, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations

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THIS WEEK @UN

Fed-Up Africans; Has Biden Forgotten the UN?; Don’t Sanction the Houthis

Dulcie Leimbach

• November 20, 2020

Africans are fed up with being sidelined in the Security Council; hey, Joe Biden, don’t overlook the UN; a mother of five competes against 12 men in the Burkina Faso presidential election. You are reading This Week @UN, highlighting the most important news on the world body. The information is drawn from the UN spokesperson’s …