US will show strength at UN- US Ambassador to UN
Nikki Haley, the new US Ambassador to the UN said in a strongly worded message that the US will show its "strength" at the UN and act accordingly against opponents. While presenting her credentials to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres she said: "We will have the backs of our allies...and those who do not have our back, we're taking names".
Nikki Haley chosen as the US ambassador to UN
The transition team announced that President-elect Donald Trump has picked Indian-American Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley to be the US ambassador to the United Nations. Nikki would replace Samantha Power. She would also be the first woman and minority representative to be a part of Trump's administration. In a recent statement, she said the US "faces enormous challenges" both at home and internationally.
Nikki Haley opposes Trump's stance during Senate hearing
Donald Trump's nominee to be US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, 44, has received an overwhelmingly respectful reception from both Democratic and Republicans during her Senate confirmation hearing. Haley is the governor of South Carolina and is an Indian-American. Her positive reception was because she clearly disagreed with Trump's stance on several issues, especially Russia.
Who is Haley?
Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley was born in 1972 in Bamberg, South Carolina, to Sikh immigrants from Amritsar. She was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2004. She was elected as the state's governor in 2010, becoming the second Indian-American governor after Bobby Jindal. She has converted to Christianity but continues to attend services in Sikh gurudwaras.
What is a senate confirmation hearing?
The US Senate must decide whether to confirm or deny the appointments of high-ranking government positions by the President. A Senate committee holds public hearings where it closely scrutinizes and questions nominees on their policy positions. The committee then reports the nomination favourably, unfavourably or without recommendation. Nominees are approved by a single majority vote in the Senate based on the committee's report.
What Haley said
Haley said the US shouldn't accept Russia's annexation of Crimea and insisted on a continuation of sanctions against Moscow. She felt Washington should remain committed to the NATO alliance. She questioned US funding of the UN. Haley said she supports Israel and criticized the Obama administration for abstaining during a recent UN vote condemning Israeli settlements in Palestine.
Haley on Russia
"I don't think we can trust [the Russians]," she said. "They have certainly done some terrible atrocities." She said Russia's bombing of civilian areas in Aleppo, Syria, constitute "war crimes."
Differences with Trump
Haley regularly clashed with Trump during the latter's presidential campaign. Unlike Haley, Trump has consistently defended Russia's actions and praised President Vladimir Putin. Trump recently irked America's NATO allies by calling the alliance "obsolete." However, she said she would speak her mind with Trump and work with her colleagues to change the president's mind on Russia and NATO.
Nikki Haley confirmed as US ambassador to UN
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has been confirmed by the US Senate as the next Ambassador to the UN. She is expected to be sworn in soon. This comes a day after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of Haley for the ambassadorial position. Haley has become the first Indian-American to serve on a cabinet-level position in any American presidential administration.
