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Trump’s UN Pick Supports ‘Israel’, Hardline on Russia

Trump’s UN Pick Supports ‘Israel’, Hardline on Russia
folder_openUnited States access_time7 years ago
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South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, nominated to be the new US ambassador to the UN, told the Senate she would "always stand by ‘Israel'" and took a hard line on Russia, clashing with positions taken by President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump’s UN Pick Supports ‘Israel’, Hardline on Russia

Haley's opening remarks at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revolved around the recently adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2334 condemning ‘Israeli' settlements, which she blamed on the Obama administration's decision to forego the US veto.

"I will never abstain when the United Nations takes any action that comes in direct conflict with the interests and values of the United States," Haley told the lawmakers.

Admitting a lack of experience in foreign policy, the US-born daughter of Punjabi Sikh immigrants, Haley argued she could bring a fresh outlook to the UN. She also reassured the foreign policy establishment rattled by Trump's election that she agreed with many of their cherished causes.

"We are the moral compass of the world," Haley told lawmakers. "The US is the indispensable voice for freedom," she added. Her vision of the UN was "an international institution that honors America's commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights."

Haley reassured Senator Jeanne Shaheen [D-New Hampshire] that she would try to persuade the president about the importance of the UN and change his mind on issues such as NATO, "an alliance that matters." She agreed with Sen. Todd Young [R-Indiana] that Russia was complicit in the "genocide" taking place in Syria, for which the Republican senator blamed President Bashar al-Assad.

On the subject of Russia, Haley agreed with Sen. Ben Cardin [D-Maryland] that Crimea is part of Ukraine. The peninsula overwhelmingly voted to join Russia after the February 2014 coup in Kiev.

"We have to make that very clear to them," she said. "Russia has to make positive actions before we lift any sanctions."

While Haley agreed with Trump that the US will need Russia's help with fighting Daesh [ISIS/ISIL], she noted: "We cannot trust them and need to continue to be cautious."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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