Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) assured skeptical Senate Democrats at the confirmation hearing for President Trump's selection of ambassador to the United Nations that she would be committed to involvement in the United Nations, and warned against China's domination of the world. It is a priority place to meet the challenges of the future. stage.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D.N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Stefanik, a former Republican conference chair, would likely receive bipartisan support in a vote on the Senate floor, adding that Republicans The MP added: “Good job.”
“I don't agree with her on everything, but I thought she was strong and clear about her values,” Shaheen said.
Stefanik has rallied traditional allies of the United States to eliminate China and its supporters, criticizing international organizations as infected with “corruption of anti-Semitism” against Israel and He pledged to build a coalition and advance leadership and staffing at key institutions.
“I think these are the most significant national security challenges generationally,” Stefanik said, referring to China. “This is going to be the biggest challenge facing my generation,” she said, adding that standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel is “a huge priority for me.”
Democrats nod to join over the China threat, showing that even as partisan divisions deepen among lawmakers on foreign policy, bipartisan agreement remains in some areas — an area historically This is an area where Republicans and Democrats are trying to present a united front on the world stage.
But with a series of executive orders signed by President Trump on Monday night, there is a sense among Democrats that the United States is already relinquishing its role vis-à-vis China, withdrawing from the World Health Organization and leaving the United States open for three months pending review. There was a growing sense of alarm that all development aid was being temporarily suspended.
“Can we agree that 90 days may be too long? Once that is confirmed, we will look at where we can turn the spigot back on,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). Stefanik was approached about President Trump's executive order.
“Because at the moment this is a total freeze… It would be nice if we could unfreeze some of it in 20 days instead of 90 days, because freezing all aid for three months would have huge geopolitical implications.”
But Stefanik said he supports President Trump's foreign aid order.
“We are going to work with the National Security Council to ensure that we have all the necessary tools to protect our national security. When it comes to the United Nations, the diplomatic part is an important part of that,” she said. .
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) expressed concern that the funding freeze would likely impact key U.N. programs such as the World Food Program, which Stefanik had pledged to support. He also noted how support for allies, such as Jordan, which is crucial in the flammable Middle East, plays a diplomatic role. in The United States supports an economic corridor between the Philippines and Japan, which is important in countering China.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the committee chairman, acknowledged there were “legitimate and legitimate” concerns among his colleagues, but said Congress had the authority to amend the executive order. Ta.
“When you issue sweeping executive orders like this, the law of unintended consequences sometimes prevails. That being said, any of these executive orders can be amended and we “has a long history of amending executive orders on both sides,” he said.
Stefanik said he would defer to the decisions of President Trump, the National Security Council and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, confirmed Monday, on how to proceed with restoring funding.
Stefanik sheds more light on what President Trump's “America First” foreign policy will look like in terms of U.S. foreign engagement, and details where every dollar will go at the world body. He called for explanations and to ensure that it delivers “specific results” that are relevant to international organizations. American national security.
“When I was talking about reform, I was mainly talking about making sure that all of the taxpayers' money goes to the United Nations agencies, which are working very well. . But I'm open to talking about how to make it work better,” she said.
“I think we need to have a broader strategy to reach out to countries in the Global South, where China has a large presence…and that's obviously not just the United Nations, but working with Secretary Rubio. “We're working with USAID, we're working with USTR, we're working with large economic investments,” Stefanik said, referring to the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Office of the Trade Representative. Ta.
“Don't forget DFC” [Development Finance Corporation]” Coons interjected, referring to the public-private investment program that President Trump signed into law during his first term.
The congressman will promote U.S. involvement in specialized United Nations agencies such as communications, intellectual property, civil aviation, and artificial intelligence to counter China's efforts to set global standards in these areas. I promised.
“We need to fight back both in the short and long term. [Chinese Communist Party’s] “There needs to be a similar commitment not only at the lowest levels within the UN system, the first entry level, but also at senior levels and heads of these sub-UN bodies,” she said.
Bringing together a strong coalition of small states in the 193-member United Nations is a persistent challenge for the United States and its democratic partners. Countries in the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America often find their priorities sidelined in the face of competition from democracies and China and Russia. Or, their issues will get stuck in the Security Council, where the five permanent members – the US, China, Russia, Britain and France – have veto power.
Competing with China for global influence will be a top priority for the United States' involvement in the United Nations, but Stefanik, if confirmed, will also be charged with confronting many pressing challenges to peace and security. It will be.
This includes how the United Nations will respond to Syria's interim government, which ousted Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime but is led by a U.S.-designated terrorist group. The United Nations also has a role in helping maintain ceasefires brought across the finish line between Israel and Hamas in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip by the Biden administration. There are also questions about what role the United Nations will play in the reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine, which President Trump has made a priority.
Addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by the Sudanese civil war. Maintaining support for Kenyan security forces in Haiti and opposing Iran's human rights abuses and nuclear weapons ambitions are just some of the organization's other issues.
Stefanik said the U.N. mission's support for career U.S. diplomats is essential to navigating the forum's complex technical challenges and the personalities of diplomats with long-standing ties compared to relatively new diplomats. It was announced that
“I want to tap into their expertise, especially the regional expertise that many of the State Department employees who serve in USUN missions have, which is very important.”
Julia Mueller contributed to this report.
