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| Nikki Haley: global face of Trump administration strikes delicate balance | Nikki Haley: global face of Trump administration strikes delicate balance |
| (7 months later) | |
| The US’s ambassador to the UN has differed from Trump on Nato and the Kremlin even as she supports some of the president’s contentious ambitions | |
| Sabrina Siddiqui in Washington and | |
| Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem | |
| Sat 8 Jul 2017 12.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 10 Jul 2017 17.03 BST | |
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| Taking her place at the dais in an emergency meeting of the UN security council this week, Nikki Haley aimed a characteristically stinging rebuke at North Korea over its successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile – and raised the threat of military retaliation. | Taking her place at the dais in an emergency meeting of the UN security council this week, Nikki Haley aimed a characteristically stinging rebuke at North Korea over its successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile – and raised the threat of military retaliation. |
| It was not the first time Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, has led the rhetorical charge against adversaries of the US. | It was not the first time Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, has led the rhetorical charge against adversaries of the US. |
| While Rex Tillerson has taken an unusually low profile as America’s top diplomat and key posts remain unfilled at the the state department, some have even characterized Haley as the de facto secretary of state. | While Rex Tillerson has taken an unusually low profile as America’s top diplomat and key posts remain unfilled at the the state department, some have even characterized Haley as the de facto secretary of state. |
| As one of Donald Trump’s most high-profile lieutenants, Haley is the international face of an administration that lacks a clear foreign policy doctrine and is often led astray by the whims of a president who prefers Twitter rants to diplomatic channels. | As one of Donald Trump’s most high-profile lieutenants, Haley is the international face of an administration that lacks a clear foreign policy doctrine and is often led astray by the whims of a president who prefers Twitter rants to diplomatic channels. |
| The uncertainty has catapulted Haley into the spotlight as a key US negotiator, but also as the protector of her boss’s “America First” platform in a role that at its very core relies on international cooperation. | The uncertainty has catapulted Haley into the spotlight as a key US negotiator, but also as the protector of her boss’s “America First” platform in a role that at its very core relies on international cooperation. |
| US allies have expressed concern over the Trump administration’s chaotic foreign policy, but last week Haley told the House foreign affairs committee that unpredictability was an advantage. | US allies have expressed concern over the Trump administration’s chaotic foreign policy, but last week Haley told the House foreign affairs committee that unpredictability was an advantage. |
| “I deal with 192 [countries] and the overwhelming feeling is that we are unpredictable,” she said. “They don’t know exactly what we are going to do. | “I deal with 192 [countries] and the overwhelming feeling is that we are unpredictable,” she said. “They don’t know exactly what we are going to do. |
| “It has kept them more on alert, of wanting to be there with us, not wanting to get on the wrong side of us.” | “It has kept them more on alert, of wanting to be there with us, not wanting to get on the wrong side of us.” |
| The comments were typical of Haley, who since assuming the role of UN ambassador earlier this year has set out to downplay Trump’s erratic statements without teetering into outright defiance. | The comments were typical of Haley, who since assuming the role of UN ambassador earlier this year has set out to downplay Trump’s erratic statements without teetering into outright defiance. |
| Until his speech in Warsaw this week, Trump had repeatedly refused to commit to article five of the Nato charter – the provision requiring members to defend each other from attack. In contrast, Haley used her Senate confirmation hearing in January to stress the importance of Nato as a bedrock of transatlantic relations. | Until his speech in Warsaw this week, Trump had repeatedly refused to commit to article five of the Nato charter – the provision requiring members to defend each other from attack. In contrast, Haley used her Senate confirmation hearing in January to stress the importance of Nato as a bedrock of transatlantic relations. |
| And where Trump has repeatedly lavished praise on Vladimir Putin, Haley has maintained an aggressive posture against the Kremlin and declared in her first UN security council address in February: “We cannot trust Russia. We should never trust Russia.” | And where Trump has repeatedly lavished praise on Vladimir Putin, Haley has maintained an aggressive posture against the Kremlin and declared in her first UN security council address in February: “We cannot trust Russia. We should never trust Russia.” |
| She has condemned human rights violations, while Trump has praised authoritarian rulers such as the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte and and even said he would be “honored” to meet with Kim Jong-un. | She has condemned human rights violations, while Trump has praised authoritarian rulers such as the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte and and even said he would be “honored” to meet with Kim Jong-un. |
| It was Haley who held up portraits of children killed by Bashar al-Assad’s April chemical weapons attack; the UN ambassador has insisted that the Syrian president must go, even as Trump and Tillerson appear resigned to him remaining in power. | It was Haley who held up portraits of children killed by Bashar al-Assad’s April chemical weapons attack; the UN ambassador has insisted that the Syrian president must go, even as Trump and Tillerson appear resigned to him remaining in power. |
| “I think she is doing something that’s very difficult,” said Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. “That is to never contradict the president, but to speak in more traditional Republican tones about foreign policy.” | “I think she is doing something that’s very difficult,” said Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. “That is to never contradict the president, but to speak in more traditional Republican tones about foreign policy.” |
| Abrams, who served under Ronald Reagan and George W Bush, said one of the unusual aspects of Haley’s job was how it has seemingly expanded as Tillerson takes a backseat. | Abrams, who served under Ronald Reagan and George W Bush, said one of the unusual aspects of Haley’s job was how it has seemingly expanded as Tillerson takes a backseat. |
| “In many ways, she’s the main spokesman for the United States on a lot of foreign policy issues,” Abrams said. “She’s not just handling UN affairs in New York, she’s taking charge of American participation in the entire UN system.” | “In many ways, she’s the main spokesman for the United States on a lot of foreign policy issues,” Abrams said. “She’s not just handling UN affairs in New York, she’s taking charge of American participation in the entire UN system.” |
| But Haley has also lined up behind some of Trump’s more contentious ambitions. She has declared the president as “putting the UN on notice” and emphatically defended what even some congressional Republicans have described as “devastating” cuts to the UN budget. | But Haley has also lined up behind some of Trump’s more contentious ambitions. She has declared the president as “putting the UN on notice” and emphatically defended what even some congressional Republicans have described as “devastating” cuts to the UN budget. |
| The US is eying a reduction of its contribution to the peacekeeping budget from 28.5% currently to 25% of total costs. The annual savings amount to roughly $600m, which is less than the $1bn proposed cut to UN peacekeeping costs outlined by Trump in a budget blueprint earlier this year. | The US is eying a reduction of its contribution to the peacekeeping budget from 28.5% currently to 25% of total costs. The annual savings amount to roughly $600m, which is less than the $1bn proposed cut to UN peacekeeping costs outlined by Trump in a budget blueprint earlier this year. |
| But UN officials have pushed back, arguing in May that the proposed cuts would “simply make it impossible” to maintain some of the body’s most essential work. | But UN officials have pushed back, arguing in May that the proposed cuts would “simply make it impossible” to maintain some of the body’s most essential work. |
| Haley cheered the cuts in a tweet last week, writing: “Just 5 months into our time here, we’ve cut over half a billion $$$ from the UN peacekeeping budget & we’re only getting started.” | Haley cheered the cuts in a tweet last week, writing: “Just 5 months into our time here, we’ve cut over half a billion $$$ from the UN peacekeeping budget & we’re only getting started.” |
| Abrams said Haley was navigating an administration “which has very often deprecated international cooperation”. | Abrams said Haley was navigating an administration “which has very often deprecated international cooperation”. |
| But skeptics say Haley’s balancing act is precarious. | But skeptics say Haley’s balancing act is precarious. |
| Tommy Vietor, a former National Security Council spokesman under Barack Obama, said Haley was hampered by a lack of coordination within the administration. | Tommy Vietor, a former National Security Council spokesman under Barack Obama, said Haley was hampered by a lack of coordination within the administration. |
| UN security council resolutions on North Korea and Iran under the Obama White House, he noted, were not the undertaking of any one administration official. It was not simply the UN ambassador but also the secretary of state pushing for negotiations and the president himself making phone calls to seal the deal. | UN security council resolutions on North Korea and Iran under the Obama White House, he noted, were not the undertaking of any one administration official. It was not simply the UN ambassador but also the secretary of state pushing for negotiations and the president himself making phone calls to seal the deal. |
| “I don’t think Nikki Haley even has that as an option,” Vietor said, “and Tillerson doesn’t seem to have a seat at the table in any meaningful way, in terms of shaping policy. | “I don’t think Nikki Haley even has that as an option,” Vietor said, “and Tillerson doesn’t seem to have a seat at the table in any meaningful way, in terms of shaping policy. |
| “They rarely seem to know what Trump is going to do or say at any given moment.” | “They rarely seem to know what Trump is going to do or say at any given moment.” |
| Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea | Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea |
| Haley’s foreign policy experience was questioned this week when she appeared to complain about having to work on the 4 July holiday after the North Korean missile test. | Haley’s foreign policy experience was questioned this week when she appeared to complain about having to work on the 4 July holiday after the North Korean missile test. |
| “Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea,” Haley tweeted, prompting a backlash from Twitter users who suggested that a senior administration official should not begrudge working amid a diplomatic crisis. | “Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea,” Haley tweeted, prompting a backlash from Twitter users who suggested that a senior administration official should not begrudge working amid a diplomatic crisis. |
| Vietor said Haley, despite lacking the traditional background of a UN ambassador, seemed to understand the importance of building international coalitions. Her real challenge, he said, was being undermined by Trump. | Vietor said Haley, despite lacking the traditional background of a UN ambassador, seemed to understand the importance of building international coalitions. Her real challenge, he said, was being undermined by Trump. |
| “I’m glad she’s speaking up for human rights when she does,” Vietor said, “but it’s gone when [Trump is] cozying up to Duterte, who’s bragged about killing people.” | “I’m glad she’s speaking up for human rights when she does,” Vietor said, “but it’s gone when [Trump is] cozying up to Duterte, who’s bragged about killing people.” |
| Haley has also come under significant criticism for her handling of the Israel-Palestine issue in UN institutions. | Haley has also come under significant criticism for her handling of the Israel-Palestine issue in UN institutions. |
| Feted by Israel for her strong support, she was in turn criticized this week by a senior Palestinian politician, Hanan Ashrawi, for conducting a “one-woman crusade” against Palestinians. | Feted by Israel for her strong support, she was in turn criticized this week by a senior Palestinian politician, Hanan Ashrawi, for conducting a “one-woman crusade” against Palestinians. |
| “Through intimidation and threats, Miss Haley’s crusade does not miss an opportunity to put pressure on anyone that seeks to challenge Israeli impunity,” Ashrawi said. | “Through intimidation and threats, Miss Haley’s crusade does not miss an opportunity to put pressure on anyone that seeks to challenge Israeli impunity,” Ashrawi said. |
| Haley has repeatedly accused UN institutions of “bias” against Israel or of “bullying” the country – words that have won her plaudits from the country’s rightwing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its own UN ambassador, Danny Danon. | Haley has repeatedly accused UN institutions of “bias” against Israel or of “bullying” the country – words that have won her plaudits from the country’s rightwing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its own UN ambassador, Danny Danon. |
| And her words have been matched by her actions. | And her words have been matched by her actions. |
| Earlier this year, she delivered a US veto on the nomination of the former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as UN envoy to Libya – despite the fact that Fayyad was highly regarded by US officials. | Earlier this year, she delivered a US veto on the nomination of the former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as UN envoy to Libya – despite the fact that Fayyad was highly regarded by US officials. |
| Explaining her move, Haley said the US did not recognize a Palestinian state “or support the signal” Fayyad’s appointment would have sent. | Explaining her move, Haley said the US did not recognize a Palestinian state “or support the signal” Fayyad’s appointment would have sent. |
| Haley herself expanded her logic later in a speech to the powerful pro-Israel US lobby group Aipac. “We said no and we had him booted out,” she said, as the audience cheered. | Haley herself expanded her logic later in a speech to the powerful pro-Israel US lobby group Aipac. “We said no and we had him booted out,” she said, as the audience cheered. |
| “That doesn’t mean he wasn’t a nice man. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t good to America. What it means is, until the Palestinian Authority comes to the table, until the UN responds the way they’re supposed to, there are no freebies for the Palestinian Authority anymore.” | “That doesn’t mean he wasn’t a nice man. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t good to America. What it means is, until the Palestinian Authority comes to the table, until the UN responds the way they’re supposed to, there are no freebies for the Palestinian Authority anymore.” |
| The move drew a strong response from the former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, who called it “stunningly dumb”. | The move drew a strong response from the former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, who called it “stunningly dumb”. |
| Haley entered the fray again on Friday, asking senior UN officials to oppose a Palestinian effort to get Unesco’s world heritage committee to adopt a resolution declaring Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs as world heritage sites designated as in danger. | Haley entered the fray again on Friday, asking senior UN officials to oppose a Palestinian effort to get Unesco’s world heritage committee to adopt a resolution declaring Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs as world heritage sites designated as in danger. |
| Haley was overwhelmingly approved by the US Senate, by a 96-4 vote, in a testament to her national profile as a voice of reason within the Republican party. As governor of South Carolina, she was commended for her response to the racially motivated mass shooting at Emanuel AME church in Charleston in June 2015, which included the decision to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds. | Haley was overwhelmingly approved by the US Senate, by a 96-4 vote, in a testament to her national profile as a voice of reason within the Republican party. As governor of South Carolina, she was commended for her response to the racially motivated mass shooting at Emanuel AME church in Charleston in June 2015, which included the decision to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds. |
| But diplomacy carried unique challenges for anyone representing the Trump administration on the global stage, Vietor warned. | But diplomacy carried unique challenges for anyone representing the Trump administration on the global stage, Vietor warned. |
| “I think Trump’s word is the only one people are listening to,” he said, “because they know a policy is only as good as his most recent tweet.” | “I think Trump’s word is the only one people are listening to,” he said, “because they know a policy is only as good as his most recent tweet.” |
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