Global Geopolitical Series: Trump’s threat makes UNGA vote a must watch

United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA) will convene today in a special session and will be voting on a motion that aims to counter President Trump’s decision earlier this month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Brief background:

Ahead of a United Nation’ General Assembly debate on President Trump’s move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States has warned those looking to oppose the U.S. decision that the United States stands ready to take names of its critics. On December 6th, Washington unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a move that has been criticized by both allies like France, Britain, and foes like China and Russia. The decision also attracted dire criticism from many Muslim majority countries.

Earlier this week, the United States vetoed down a proposal from Egypt at United Nations’ Security Council (UNSC) that called on all states to refrain from recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The vote, where all members except the United States voted in favor made it clear that the United States remain isolated in its decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. After the vote, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley called the united front against Washington an insult, which will not be forgotten. After the U.S. veto, Palestine on Tuesday officially requested a rare special session of the U.N. general assembly (UNGA) on the status of the Jerusalem.

Nikki Haley’s threat:

Ahead of the UNGA on Thursday U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley warned against taking a stance against the U.S. decision. While A UNGA vote is not legally binding, it could show the U.S. isolation on the decision and the support for a two-state solution with Jerusalem being the capital of both Israel and Palestine. She wrote on Twitter, “At the UN we're always asked to do more & give more. So, when we make a decision, at the will of the American ppl, abt where to locate OUR embassy, we don't expect those we've helped to target us. On Thurs there'll be a vote criticizing our choice. The US will be taking names.”

Trump heightens threat level:

Speaking during a cabinet meeting, President Trump took the threatening to the next level warning it might have consequences in billions of dollars. He said, “I like the message that Nikki sent yesterday at the United Nations for all of these nations that take our money and then they vote against us at the Security Council, or they vote against us potentially at the assembly.  They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us.  Well, we’re watching those votes.  Let them vote against us, we’ll save a lot.  We don’t care.” He further added that situation has changed under his administration, “But this isn’t like it used to be where they could vote against you, and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what they’re doing.  So, Nikki that was the right message that you and I agreed to be sent yesterday.”

Must watch:

The UNGA voting would clarify the followings,

• How many are ready to oppose the U.S. decision even if they face cuts in billions of dollars’ worth of aids from the United States?
• How much support or opposition is there from the countries that are predominantly Muslim in their faith?

If majority votes against the motion, it would not only be a victory for Trump but the new approach too.