U.N. looks for Trump foreign policy hints
from tough-talking envoy
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[March 30, 2017]
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Nikki Haley has
made a tough-talking debut as U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to the
United Nations but her counterparts on the powerful Security Council are
waiting to see if that will translate into policies differing from those
of the Obama administration on crises from South Sudan and Somalia to
Yemen and North Korea.
Although Haley is one of the few veteran politicians in Trump's Cabinet,
her diplomatic prowess is facing an early test as she represents an
administration with policies that are unclear and top foreign policy
posts that are empty.
"There's only two subjects where there is some kind of determined
policy: the Middle East and also (U.N.) budget cuts, especially
peacekeeping," said a senior council diplomat, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
Haley assumes the monthly presidency of the 15-member council in April,
adding to the challenge as the Trump administration moves to slash U.S.
financial support for the world body.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has kept a low profile, leaving
the former Republican governor of South Carolina as the face of U.S.
foreign policy after Trump himself.
"She's establishing for herself quite a lot of leeway in terms of
pursuing things the way she wants to pursue them here in New York," said
a second senior Security Council diplomat.
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But the diplomat said that on Iran and North Korea: "The tone might be
just slightly tougher, but the substance is almost identical (to the
previous administration)."
Haley has said that while it would be difficult to reimpose sanctions on
Iran that were removed under a 2015 deal with world powers to curb
Tehran's nuclear program, the United States is "going to watch them like
a hawk." The Trump administration is reviewing how to handle a North
Korea that continues to press its missile and nuclear weapons programs
despite UN sanctions.
"The problem is the whole administration is still in the making. They
don't have many officials who are responsible for policy," said the
first senior diplomat. "There's a huge difference between what they want
and what they do."
While Trump pledged to build closer ties with Moscow when he took office
on Jan. 20, Haley has followed in the footsteps of her predecessor,
President Barack Obama's envoy Samantha Power, in confronting Russia
over its seizure of Crimea and for protecting Syria's government from
council action.
"On Russia handling, there's been a lot of speculation about different
views from members of the administration, but ... she has been at the
tough end of the spectrum, and has now done that on multiple occasions,"
the second diplomat said.
'NEW SHERIFF'
Haley appears set for a clash with Russia and China over her plans to
hold a council meeting in April on human rights.
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![](../images/033017pics/news_p25.jpg)
Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
presents her credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 27, 2017.
REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo
![](../images/ads/current/richardson_lda_090916.png)
"It will be very telling if any country tries to block this debate,"
Haley told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on
Wednesday.
Moscow and Beijing say rights discussions should be confined to the
Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council, which Washington has
threatened to quit unless its agenda drops what a senior State
Department official has called an "obsession with Israel."
Haley said this week that during her first two months she dampened
"Israel-bashing" at the United Nations by preventing a Palestinian
from being appointed U.N. envoy to Libya and demanding U.N. chief
Antonio Guterres withdraw a report accusing Israel of imposing an
"apartheid regime" on Palestinians.
"For anyone that says you can't get anything done at the U.N., they
need to know there's a new sheriff in town," she told a conference
of the largest U.S. pro-Israel lobbying group on Monday.
"There is a gap between her tough public posturing, designed for
domestic consumption, and her positions within the U.N. ... She will
have to close this visible gap," said a third Security Council
diplomat.
Another priority for Haley is reviewing all 16 U.N. peacekeeping
missions to cut costs, and plans to hold a council meeting on the
issue in April. Washington is the top contributor, paying 28.5
percent of the $7.9 billion annual peacekeeping budget.
"So far we don't have a very clear idea of how that is going to play
out," said a fourth Security Council diplomat.
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"She has underwhelmed us here at the U.N. for the simple reason that
hard-line statements have come from Washington about cutting
funding," said a senior U.N. diplomat who is not a member of the
Security Council. "People are waiting and watching."
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish)
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