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US Ambassador Waltz Outlines “America First” Approach to United Nations Reform
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz laid out a comprehensive vision for reforming the international body, emphasizing accountability and a return to core missions under the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine.
Waltz strongly rejected claims that the current U.N. cash crisis stems primarily from unpaid U.S. dues, highlighting America’s outsized financial contributions. “The United States pays to the U.N. system more than 180 countries combined,” Waltz noted. “We have historically been the largest supporter of the U.N., but under President Trump, we’re demanding reform.”
The ambassador argued that the organization has strayed from its founding principles and become inefficient. “There are times where the U.N. has been incredibly helpful to U.S. foreign policy and objectives, but there are also times where it’s working against us,” he said. “It has become bloated, it has become duplicative, it has lost its way from its original founding.”
This approach reflects the administration’s broader strategy of leveraging America’s financial contributions to drive institutional change. Waltz framed the policy as responsible stewardship of taxpayer money: “When we give the U.N. some tough love… these are the American taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. At the end of the day, we will get the American taxpayers’ money’s worth out of this organization.”
His comments come amid growing tensions over U.N. funding. Secretary-General António Guterres has characterized the situation as a matter of member states failing to meet their obligations. The secretary-general’s spokesperson defended the organization’s financial management, saying Guterres has been a “responsible steward” of U.N. finances and has pursued management reform throughout his tenure.
Waltz acknowledged some positive steps, noting that U.N. leadership has agreed to cut nearly 3,000 headquarters positions, implement the first budget cut in the organization’s 80-year history (15%), and reduce global peacekeeping forces by 25%. However, he expressed frustration at the pace of change: “The secretary general has taken steps in the right direction. Frankly, I wish he had done it much sooner in a much more aggressive way.”
The ambassador pointed to a disconnect between the U.N.’s growth and its effectiveness in maintaining global peace. “The U.N.’s budget has quadrupled in the last 25 years,” he observed. “We haven’t seen a quadrupling of peace around the world. In fact, it’s gone the opposite direction.”
Waltz also addressed the Trump administration’s Gaza peace framework and the newly established “Board of Peace,” clarifying that these initiatives are designed to complement the U.N.’s work rather than replace it. “The president doesn’t intend the Board of Peace to replace the U.N., but he intends to drive a lot of these conflicts to conclusion,” he explained.
The Board of Peace involves regional stakeholders including Egypt, Turkey, Gulf Arab nations, Jordan, and Israel. It aims to create a stabilization structure with funding mechanisms for rebuilding, humanitarian aid, and a Palestinian technocratic committee to restore government services.
Looking ahead, Waltz envisions “a much more focused U.N. that we have taken back to the basics of promoting peace and security around the world.” He advocated for greater private sector involvement in development efforts, arguing that the traditional aid model is unsustainable: “This old model of NGOs and agencies going to governments and just saying, ‘More, more, more’ — it isn’t sustainable.”
The ambassador concluded by emphasizing his role in implementing the president’s foreign policy vision. “I’m a vessel for the president’s vision,” Waltz said. “From my perspective, at the end of his administration, he looks at a U.N. that is leading in driving countries toward peaceful conclusions to conflicts around the world and asking for his help. That’s a much better dynamic than the president having to do it all.”
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14 Comments
The ‘America First’ approach seems to prioritize narrow national interests over the UN’s multilateral mandate. This could weaken the institution and undermine global cooperation on critical issues.
I share your concern. The US should carefully consider how its reform agenda might impact the UN’s ability to address transnational challenges that require collective action.
While the US provides significant funding, it’s important to remember that the UN represents the collective will of its member states, not just American interests. Any reform efforts will need broad international support to be effective.
Good observation. The US should avoid unilateral actions and work collaboratively with other nations to find solutions that balance different priorities and perspectives.
While the UN has room for improvement, the ‘America First’ approach seems to reflect a nationalist agenda that could undermine the UN’s ability to address global challenges. A more balanced, multilateral strategy may be more effective.
Well said. The US should aim to reform the UN in a way that strengthens its multilateral nature and relevance, not just serves narrow national interests.
The US has historically been a major financial contributor to the UN, so it’s understandable they would want to see reforms and a clearer focus on core objectives. However, unilateral ‘America First’ approaches could undermine the UN’s multilateral nature.
Valid point. The UN’s effectiveness relies on cooperation and collective action, so the US will need to find a balanced way to push for reforms without alienating other member states.
It’s understandable that the US wants to see the UN operate more efficiently and focus on its core missions. However, unilateral demands for reform could backfire and diminish American influence within the institution.
Agreed. The US would be better served by working constructively with other member states to identify areas for improvement through inclusive, diplomatic channels.
I’m curious to hear more details on the specific reforms the US is proposing. Efficiency and accountability are worthy goals, but the devil is in the details when it comes to restructuring a global institution like the UN.
Agreed, the specifics will be important. Hopefully the US can engage constructively with other member states to identify areas for improvement without undermining the UN’s core functions.
Interesting to hear the U.S. ambassador’s perspective on reforming the UN to align better with American interests. While the UN does have flaws, it’s a complex global institution that requires nuanced approaches to drive meaningful change.
I agree, the UN has an important role to play but needs to adapt to better serve its member states. Balancing accountability and core missions will be key.