External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj kicked off her week-long diplomatic engagements at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday morning, attending a special meeting on drugs convened at the instance of U.S. President Donald Trump. Ms. Swaraj has several bilateral and multilateral meetings over the next few days. She will address the UNGA on Saturday.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj kicked off her week-long diplomatic engagements at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday morning, attending a special meeting on drugs convened at the instance of U.S. President Donald Trump. Ms. Swaraj has several bilateral and multilateral meetings over the next few days. She will address the UNGA on Saturday.
Ms. Swaraj will also attend a special meeting on climate change being convened by Secretary General António Guterres during her stay in New York.
The 73rd UNGA is taking place against the backdrop of increased American hostility towards the world body in particular and multilateralism in general. Mr. Trump believes that multilateral global bodies and treaties function to the detriment and at the cost of the U.S.
The U.S has reduced its funding for the U.N. and either withdrawn or threatened to withdraw from several U.N. bodies under the Trump presidency. Mr. Trump is, however, seeking more support for his combative stance against Iran, from member countries. As Mr. Trump pushes ahead with his America First agenda at the UNGA and on the sidelines, India will be trying to secure its interests and preserve its standing through several diplomatic initiatives this week, according to a senior official overseeing the Minister’s engagements.
His stated scorn for the U.N. notwithstanding, Mr. Trump praised the body while addressing the special meeting on drugs. “..the scourge of drug addiction claims too many lives around the world. Today we commit to fight the drug problem together.. I’ve always said the United Nations has tremendous potential. Slowly but surely, it is being met,” he said. “If we take these steps together, we can save the lives of countless people in every corner of the world,” Mr. Trump said.
With America rolling back its interest in global security and development, under the Trump administration, the Security Council’s prominence has diminished, an Indian official pointed out. While America is on retreat, no other country is stepping up to fill the leadership vacuum in the U.N., and Ms. Swaraj’s engagements will account for this situation. “The EAM’s meetings will focus on issues such as climate change, digital infrastructure, sustainability and South- South cooperation. These are areas that India has interests and expertise in,” said the official.
Ms. Swaraj met Federica Maria Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Morocco Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita on Monday. She “discussed strengthening cooperation in areas of commerce, pharma, cybersecurity, defence and culture,” with Mr. Bourita, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.