When President Trump addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, he should focus on three main priorities: international cooperation where it matters and is possible, the need for U.N. reform, and the expectation that other nations treat America with respect.
While the current international order based on democracy and the rule of law faces challenges from China and Putin’s Russia, areas exist where international actors can cooperate. One such area is greater collaboration in counter-terrorism. Trump might, for example, offer to establish an international center for countering terrorism. Based in Washington, D.C. and staffed by security specialists from each embassy, the center could act as a place to share intelligence, analysis, and best practices. Another possible area for consensus is on the environment. Specifically, the health of the oceans in relation to plastic pollutants in the food chain and overfishing. With some U.S. leadership, major action to address both of those concerns would be possible. China wouldn’t agree, but the U.S. could support governments in denying Chinese vessels access to their exclusive economic zones, or simply shame China into being the odd one out. If nothing else, this focus would show that Trump isn’t reflexively opposed to multilateralism.
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