The screams you heard emanating from Turtle Bay earlier this week have been overseas diplomats studying that President-elect Donald Trump would appoint Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to be his ambassador to the United Nations.
If anybody can struggle again in opposition to the anti-Americanism and antisemitism contained in the UN system, it’s Stefanik.
Her first cease would be the UN Safety Council. As a everlasting member, the USA holds each a veto and the ability to convene.
Stefanik ought to use them in methods the Biden administration by no means did.
The Biden workforce lived in concern of wielding America’s veto, viewing its deployment as a failure of diplomacy, and searched as a substitute for compromises that diluted his personal administration’s coverage positions.
That put the USA on protection whereas Russia and China — unafraid to make use of their very own veto powers every time wanted — went on offense.
In a cesspool of anti-American actors trying to find any angle to hurt our nation, Stefanik ought to be unafraid to make use of each instrument to struggle again.
That begins with a agency backstop — letting adversaries know the USA will likely be unflinching in its use of the veto — however continues by waging an offensive marketing campaign in opposition to these adversaries.
With the ability to convene and introduce resolutions, each Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio, reportedly his decide for secretary of state, ought to view Stefanik as their tip of the spear in political warfare in opposition to America’s enemies.
No month ought to cross with out the council shining a lightweight on the illicit conduct of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and their key companions in chaos. China and Russia ought to be compelled to veto resolutions defending their very own malign actions and people of their shoppers and allies.
For instance, as a substitute of ready for one more anti-Israel decision to come back earlier than the council for a US veto, Stefanik may pressure a vote on the UN designation of Hamas as a terrorist group.
Let Beijing and Moscow overtly defend a brutal terrorist group by utilizing their vetoes to cease it.
The identical will be finished to highlight different terror proxies of Iran — such because the Houthis and their assaults on worldwide delivery within the Purple Sea — and China’s and Russia’s personal crimes in opposition to humanity.
If, as anticipated, Trump reconstitutes his most strain marketing campaign in opposition to Iran, Stefanik has an early function to play: Pushing the UK, France and Germany to affix the USA in triggering the snapback of multilateral sanctions on Iran.
Utilizing the snapback mechanism earlier than it expires subsequent yr would deliver again the UN’s standard and missile embargoes on Tehran and restore the worldwide commonplace of zero enrichment for Iran whereas avoiding a Russian or Chinese language veto.
Subsequent comes leveraging American monetary help throughout the UN system to root out Chinese language malign affect, counter antisemitism and cease {dollars} from flowing to terrorist teams.
Stefanik ought to set up a marketing campaign “war room” to recruit pro-American candidates to run UN businesses and defeat candidates loyal to Beijing. She also needs to make it a precedence to determine and take away Chinese language officers embedded in UN higher administration.
For instance, the World Well being Group denies Taiwan observer standing and likewise conceals the origins of COVID-19. Businesses just like the Meals and Agriculture Group and UNESCO function as arms of Beijing’s Belt and Highway Initiative. The Human Rights Council whitewashes China’s abuses.
All these businesses ought to be excessive on her goal record.
She ought to be certain to keep up US dominance inside expertise standards-making organizations just like the Worldwide Telecommunication Union — and to achieve extra leverage over Beijing, Stefanik can insist that Taiwan be given an observer seat at each US-supported UN company.
Stefanik ought to declare one other coverage: Any company that engages in antisemitism won’t obtain a dime from the US taxpayer.
That features the UN’s personal common price range, noting the systemic antisemitism of a world physique that lowers its flag for the dying of Iran’s president however doesn’t condemn Oct. 7.
It additionally applies to teams just like the Human Rights Council and WHO, which have standing agenda gadgets to castigate Israel; UNESCO, which denies Jewish historical past; and the UN Reduction and Works Company (UNRWA), which teaches kids in Gaza and the West Financial institution to hate Jews.
UNRWA ought to be focused for an additional motive: It’s a direct monetary pipeline to designated terrorist organizations like Hamas. However quickly defunding UNRWA isn’t sufficient; Stefanik ought to work towards its full dismantlement.
Terror-finance issues aren’t restricted to Hamas. Stefanik might want to launch an investigation into UN funding in Afghanistan, the place the Taliban is reportedly stealing a large share of assist.
There’s one different key space by which Stefanik should assist Trump: border safety.
As border czar Tom Homan works to achieve management of America’s southern border, he’ll want Stefanik to strain businesses like UN Migration and the Excessive Commissioner for Refugees to cease incentivizing unlawful immigration into the USA.
If she follows this America First UN playbook, Stefanik received’t be common at Manhattan cocktail events. However she’s going to reach making our nation stronger.
Richard Goldberg is a senior advisor on the Basis for Protection of Democracies.
