‘Taking names’ warning to UN

PRESIDENT Trump’s new ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has vowed to show US strength, warning those who oppose Trump’s policies that she is “taking names” and will respond.

The former South Carolina governor served notice the new administration will push for an overhaul of the UN, in her first remarks at UN headquarters.

“Our goal with the administration is to show value at the UN, and the way that we will show value is to show our strength, show our voice, have the backs of our allies and make sure that our allies have our back as well,” Haley said.

“For those who don’t have our backs: we’re taking names,” she added. “We will make points to respond to that accordingly.” She made clear that some cuts were in store at the world body, which critics describe as a bloated, ineffective bureaucracy.

“This is a time of strength. This is a time of action. This is a time of getting things done,” Haley said.

“Everything that is working, we are going to make it better. Everything that is not working we are going to try and fix. Everything that seems to be obsolete and not necessary, we’re going to do away with,” she said.

The US is by far the UN’s biggest financial contributor, providing 22% of its operating budget and funding 28% of peacekeeping missions, which cost $7.8-billion a year.

The White House is reportedly preparing an executive order that could deprive the world body of billions of dollars in US financial support.

In his pledge to pursue an “America First” foreign policy, Trump has dismissed the UN as “just a club for people to get together and have a good time”.

The ambassador presented her diplomatic credentials to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Friday. — AFP