The U.N. celebrates its 75th anniversary today. Throughout much of its history, Foreign Policy has covered the ins-and-outs of the world’s leading international body.
Here's what’s at stake this year: [Thread]
Even with 10 additional nonpermanent members, some argue that the U.N. Security Council remains distinctly Eurocentric. It’s time for a postcolonial era of membership, @hmryder, Anna Baisch, and @OvigweEguegu write. [2/6]
In August, @jobeckerhrw wrote that by removing serial violators of children’s human rights from the annual list of shame, Secretary-General António Guterres is weakening one of the U.N.’s most effective accountability mechanisms. [3/6] foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/10/un-…
In response to that story, Virginia Gamba wrote that by shining a light on parties to conflict and reaching out to engage with them, the secretary-general can actually improve the security of children in situations of armed conflict. [4/6] foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/19/the…
In July, an exclusive report by FP’s @columlynch and @RobbieGramer revealed that international powers were clashing over the appointment of U.N. special representatives, testing the authority and independence of the U.N. secretary-general. [5/6] foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/22/uni…
Today, Beijing is ramping up support. FP’s @columlynch reported on China’s efforts to change the balance of power at the U.N. and other international organizations by investing money and diplomatic support in international initiatives. [6/6] foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/14/chi…
The U.S. effort to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran may be in tatters, and it may ironically undercut their goals to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program, FP's @RobbieGramer, @JackDetsch and @columlynchreport. foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/21/us-…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
@KClausing: This is the single most self destructive economic policy move I've seen in my lifetime. And I think there's kind of three elements to why it's such a terrible idea. One, it's a very large consumer tax increase. This is going to more than dwarf any possible tax cut coming out of the budget process.
Second, it's terrible for U.S. production. One thing we should remember is our exporters are our largest importers. Production these days often crosses borders, and it crosses borders many times. So what we're doing is we're disadvantaging U.S. production by making our firms pay much more for any input than our competitors abroad, and that's before we even get to the retaliation.
And the third problem is the really shambolic and misguided way that they implemented this. Even if you wanted to have tariffs for whatever reason, these tariffs are on every country in the world, and they're calculated based in a way that really makes no sense at all.
What is the case for Trump's tariffs?
@oren_cass: Well, I think it's really important to distinguish between the sort of conceptual argument for tariffs and the specifics here, because the reality is that even if the Trump team had developed the sort of most carefully thought out, thorough, well communicated set of tariffs, a lot of economists would just be saying essentially many of the same things, because they see tariffs as invalid. And I don't agree with that.
I think tariffs can, and probably need to, play an important role in our policy.
With respect to the Trump tariffs, as he's announced them, I would treat them essentially in different buckets. It seems to me, one element is the global 10% tariff. That's a policy that we've been very supportive of. I think it's a useful one. And, you know, I think ideally it's something that gets made permanent and gets made permanent through legislation, and that would provide a 10% level, it could be destructive, but not fatally so, and established as a stable part of our economic policy. I think it would actually do a lot of good.
Happening now: @RichardGowan1, the U.N. director for @CrisisGroup, joins FP Live to discuss the U.N. General Assembly happening this week and the paralysis within the governing body.
Underlying the energy and excitement in Manhattan over the U.N. summit, there is a very profound sense of disquiet about the way the organization is headed, @RichardGowan1 says on FP Live. foreignpolicy.com/live/richard-g…
On how the events of this last year have further divided the U.N.:
@RichardGowan1: The period since Russia's all out aggression against Ukraine has been very tough in terms of U.N. diplomacy, but it was really the October 7th events last year that sent everyone into a sort of shock and argument over the war between Israel and Hamas. And the situation in Gaza has splintered the U.N. through much of the last year.
HAPPENING NOW: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could be defeated in the country’s presidential election this month. What are the driving issues?
FP's @stevenacook: "The major issues that are animating Turks throughout this election have really been the economy, which has struggled for years now. ... Erdogan's management of the economy is an issue."
Q: What is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's legacy?
@MiddleEastInst's @gonultol: "It depends on who you talk to. ... Before he came to power, Turkish democracy was never perfect. But I think he took this centralization of power to a whole new level. I think that's how he… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Thread: As the war in Ukraine rages on, China’s relationship with Russia grows. What is Beijing’s current state of play with Moscow?
And while China is sweetening its relations in one place, how is it souring it in others? 🧵
2/ In his visit to Moscow on Feb. 22, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi called the China-Russia alliance “as stable as Mount Tai,” signaling to onlookers that China will not shy away from closer ties to Russia. foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/22/chi…
3/ “China may already be providing non-lethal military aid to Russia, according to U.S. officials. Supplying weaponry would be a major escalation—but a plausible one in the current geopolitical context,” @BeijingPalmer argues. foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/22/chi…
HAPPENING NOW: Ever since Washington passed its Inflation Reduction Act, lawmakers in Europe and Asia say the U.S. is fostering unfair competition. Is it?
2/ “Even as Putin’s war has undermined Russia on the geopolitical stage, we should not overlook the fact that Russia has succeeded in severely weakening Ukraine on the ground,” argues @GrahamTAllison in his overview of Putin’s methods thus far. foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/23/rus…
3/ Since the start of the invasion, Russian troops have seized 11 percent of Ukraine’s territory. When combined with land seized from Russia’s annexation of Crimea in '14, that means Russia now controls almost 1/5 of the country, notes @GrahamTAllison. foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/23/rus…