Donald Trump Returns to the U.N. Amid the Collapse of the Old Order
Trump is at the heart of this geopolitical moment, catalytic in his alliance-fraying bullying, unprovoked warmongering, and protectionist demagoguery.
Donald Trump is set to return to the United Nations next week for the sixth time during the annual general debate at the General Assembly. The U.N., as the embodiment of the post-World War II order, is currently undergoing an existential reckoning. Trump, who has frequently criticized the institution, has withdrawn from numerous U.N. treaties and agencies that he deems detrimental to American interests.
The U.S. has also withheld billions of dollars in dues, risking the loss of voting rights at the General Assembly. The U.N.'s Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned of an "imminent financial collapse" due to the acute funding shortfall. Guterres, whose term ends in December, has had to initiate major budget cuts, including a reduction in the U.N.'s workforce by roughly a fifth.
The U.N. is now grappling with the question of succession, with a crowded field of Latin American candidates vying for the role. Trump's administration has not yet signaled a preferred candidate but is likely to veto more progressive contenders. Critics warn that the U.N. could face a reduction to a vestigial organization, losing its role as a global leader in addressing international issues.
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