Donald Trump and the United Nations: What to Expect at the UN General Assembly This Week Mark Leon Goldberg September 23, 2018 Donald Trump will spend three consecutive days at the United Nations. And this year, like last year, his speeches, off the cuff remarks and general comportment will drive the discussion in New York. On Monday, Trump will chair a meeting focused on counter na...
President Trump Will Preside Over a UN Security Council Meeting About Iran. Iran’s President May Be There, Too Mark Leon Goldberg September 5, 2018 Nikki Haley previewed a potential showdown at the Security Council between Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani. Both men are expected to be in New York during the annual UN General Assembly later this month. And now there is a very good ch...
6 Takeaways from Donald Trump’s (extremely bellicose) speech to the United Nations General Assembly Mark Leon Goldberg September 19, 2017 1) War is more likely than it was before his speech This was the first time that I can recall a US president threatening to destroy a country from the podium of the United Nations. Belittling Kim Jong Un as "rocket man," and invoking an extremely bellicose po...
5 Stories to Follow for UN Week Mark Leon Goldberg September 17, 2017 1) Donald Trump’ Unpredictability Sets the Tone Every UNGA has its sideshows. In past years, this has included things like Muammar Gaddafi’s rambling 125 minute speech; Hugo Chavez suggesting George W. Bush was literally the devil, or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cla...
President Obama just gave his final address to the UN General Assembly and it was not a foreign policy speech Mark Leon Goldberg September 20, 2016 President Obama's final address to the United Nations General Assembly was not a foreign policy speech. He barely mentioned key global accomplishments of the last nine years like the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals or the Iran Nuclea...
5 Stories to Follow During UN Week Mark Leon Goldberg September 19, 2016 It's that time of year! World leaders are gathering at the United Nations this week for the start of the 71st General Assembly. These five issues will drive diplomacy around Turtle Bay and beyond. 1) Diplomatic Intrigue: Who Will Be The Next Secretary General...
The UN General Assembly Kicks off Today. Here’s What that Actually Means Mark Leon Goldberg September 13, 2016 The 71st United Nations General Assembly officially kicks off today. The big show starts next week, when heads of state descend on New York to give speeches to world, in what's known as the "General Debate." But today marks and important annual inflection poin...
Obama Makes the Case for Democracy (And Against Putinism) Mark Leon Goldberg September 28, 2015 This is President Obama's last UN General Assembly speech before he becomes a lame duck. Accordingly, this speech is the last time that President Obama can make pledges against which the international community can hold him responsible. In previous years hi...
Here are the Big Stories That will Drive the Agenda at the UN Summit in New York. An UNGA Preview Mark Leon Goldberg September 18, 2015 The UN Summit kicks off next week in New York! This is always the most exciting time of year for us UN nerds. And between the Pope and Putin, this year's UN General Assembly promises to be a very interesting one. Here with me to break down what to expec...