What to expect from Donald Trump’s UN debut
North Korea and Iran are likely to feature in his speech, but will the President stick to his script?
All eyes will be on the US President when he delivers his maiden speech to world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later today.
There is little doubt who is headlining this year’s meeting, James Reinl writes for Al Jazeera. “Diplomats have been heard chatting about Donald Trump’s arrival for weeks,” he says.
The President is expected to address a host of geopolitical concerns via a scripted teleprompter speech, but even so, his “pre-written spiels vary enormously,” says Reinl. So, what can we expect?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The North Korean problem
Arriving at the UN headquarters yesterday, Trump told reporters: “As far as North Korea is concerned, I think that most of you know how I feel.”
Tough rhetoric akin to his previous “fire and fury” comments will come as no surprise to leaders, but most will be waiting to see if the President makes specific mention of possible military action.
“A lot of leaders are really very scared that the US could blunder into war pretty much by accident on the Korean Peninsula,” said Richard Gowan, from the European Council on Foreign Relations.
We will therefore hear “a chorus of voices both from Asia and beyond arguing that we still have to give talks a chance,” he told Voice of America.
The Iranian deal
The President has threatened to pull out of the landmark agreement with Tehran, describing it as the worst deal ever negotiated, but is more likely to announce plans to weaken it, says CNN.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani yesterday warned that the US will pay a “high cost” if it walks away from the deal.
Whether Trump will follow through on his threats to repudiate it and risk isolation remains to be seen, says The New York Times.
Western diplomats “have expressed worry about the administration’s hostility to the accord, saying that it could create [even] more nuclear uncertainty,” the newspaper reports.
Climate change
World leaders will be hoping for some clarity on America’s position on the Paris deal. The Trump administration has sent out mixed messages about the accord over the last few days, with some senior officials suggesting that the US may not withdraw from the climate change deal after all.
That prompted a “firm pushback from the White House which insisted its stance was unchanged - only for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to assert a day later that the US was studying ways to cooperate with other countries,” says AFP.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was among those holding out hope for a change of heart, the agency reports.
“We take note of President Trump’s statements on not respecting it, but for the moment no action has been taken and we can still hope to persuade him,” he said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Can Europe pick up the slack in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Trump's election raises questions about what's next in the war
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What does the G20 summit say about the new global order?
Today's Big Question Donald Trump's election ushers in era of 'transactional' geopolitics that threatens to undermine international consensus
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
What will Trump mean for the Middle East?
Talking Point President-elect's 'pro-Israel stance' could mask a more complex and unpredictable approach to the region
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How will Elon Musk's alliance with Donald Trump pan out?
The Explainer The billionaire's alliance with Donald Trump is causing concern across liberal America
By The Week UK Published
-
'Paraguay has found itself in a key position'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published