U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, stated his conviction that the President’s new Gaza peace initiative could present a “once-in-a-generation opportunity for Middle East peace.”
On Monday, Trump unveiled his Gaza peace strategy, which garnered Israel’s agreement. Despite U.S. disapproval of the U.N.’s conduct in Gaza, the initiative depends on the international organization’s support. When questioned about its implementation, Waltz indicated that the U.S., even while collaborating with the U.N. in Gaza, would “continue to call it out” and “demand reforms.”
During an interview with Digital, Waltz emphasized a critical problem concerning the U.N.: the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. He noted that nearly 90% of its aid vehicles were intercepted by armed groups or starving crowds between May 19 and August 5. The U.S. has identified Hamas as the primary perpetrator, asserting that members of the terrorist organization pilfer the aid to generate profit through its resale.
“We cannot permit a circumstance where U.N. agencies—whose expenses are approximately a quarter covered by the U.S.—are distributing aid in a manner that allows Hamas to appropriate it. Hamas then exploits it to accrue funds by reselling it on the black market,” Waltz informed Digital.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an entity frequently criticized by the U.N., reported on Friday that it had supplied over 178 million meals since commencing its operations in May.
Waltz quickly commenced his duties following his appointment to the position on September 19, merely days before the international organization convened its “High-level Week.” Throughout that week, world leaders, including Trump, delivered addresses to fellow member states in New York City.
Trump has unequivocally stated his objective to function as a peacemaker, a point Waltz underscored during his discussion with Digital. Nonetheless, this does not imply that he is failing to apply his personal experience to the role.
“Green Berets are known as ‘warrior diplomats.’ We frequently possess significant leverage,” Waltz, the inaugural Green Beret elected to Congress, conveyed to Digital.
He drew a parallel between this guiding principle and Trump’s management of Iran during the summer period.
“He afforded them repeated chances to disengage from a weaponized nuclear program, to surrender their enriched materials, and to partake in diplomacy; and when they did not comply, our impressive B-2s neutralized it,” he remarked.
Waltz expressed his intention to align with the perspectives of Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to execute America First policies and “make the U.N. great again.” He indicated that the institution had deviated from its foundational principles and was no longer serving as a forum for global issue resolution, a function the U.S. endeavors to restore.
Another significant priority for the , as per Waltz, involves eliminating “the bloat.”
“Similar to any bureaucracy that has existed for over 80 years, it has grown excessively large, overly bureaucratic, and consequently, less efficient. Therefore, while I won’t state that we’re going to pull the DOGE up here, we unquestionably need to implement reductions,” he communicated to Digital.
Waltz cited a recent ballot concerning Haiti as an illustration of the U.S. endeavoring to secure tangible outcomes at the U.N. As a former congressman representing Florida, he observed that the unrest in Haiti has extended to U.S. coastlines. Nevertheless, Waltz holds that the U.N.-supported gang-suppression contingent will re-establish order, without obligating the U.S. to bear the financial cost.
“Consistent with the President’s requirements, we intend to distribute the burden,” Waltz affirmed. “Other nations are participating. Kenya has assumed leadership, while El Salvador is playing a pivotal part. Additional countries are providing funding. The entire responsibility does not solely fall upon the United States.”
Waltz recognized the apprehension among Americans concerning the U.N., yet he maintained that it is imperative for global leaders to convene on U.S. territory, and for Washington to sustain its presence at discussions. He also underscored the increasing impact of international entities on the American economy through regulatory frameworks.
“Numerous international entities exist that can directly influence our economy and our daily lives, affecting areas such as aviation and global air travel, space, telecommunications, radio, and data,” he explained. “And similar to our advocacy for deregulation within our own federal government, we emphatically wish to prevent global overregulation across many of our sectors.”
Waltz emphasized that continuous global engagement is vital for safeguarding U.S. interests and hindering malevolent entities from exploiting any power vacuum.
“We must remain engaged, in my estimation, to champion the values we hold dear. Moreover, this president is undeniably a combatant. We will persevere in our struggle for our way of life,” Waltz concluded.