Trump's nominee for UN envoy notes need for US to 'lead with strength' against threats from NK China, Russia, Iran
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on her nomination to be Ambassador to the United Nations on Capitol Hill, Jan. 21, in Washington, D.C. AFP-Yonhap
U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to the U.N. underscored the need Tuesday for America to "lead with strength and moral clarity" to address security challenges from North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and others.
Elise Stefanik made the remarks during a confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, highlighting her commitment to carry out Trump's America First foreign policy.
"If confirmed, I will work to ensure that our mission to the United Nations serves the interests of the American people and represents President Trump's America First peace through strength foreign policy," she said in her opening remarks.
"As the world faces crisis after crisis, with hostages including Americans still held in Hamas' captivity, to national security challenges ranging from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, it has never been more critical for the United States to lead with strength and moral clarity," she added.
Responding to a question of which countries she considers the U.S.' "best allies" in the U.N. system, she mentioned Britain, Israel, Japan, Australia and France while South Korea was not on her list.
Noting that the U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N., Stefanik stressed that America's tax dollars "should not be complicit" in propping up entities that are counter to American interests as she touched on the issue of U.N. reform.
"We must invest in programs that strengthen our national security and deliver results. To increase the efficacy of U.N. programs, we must drive reform," she said. (Yonhap)