New York/Washington, February 19 The US will strengthen the United Nations, make it viable, and provide financial support, said President Donald Trump on Thursday, asserting that his "Board of Peace" will be "overseeing" the global organization to ensure it functions properly.
Trump made these remarks during his address to the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, which was initiated as part of the US President's 20-point peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza.
"And we are working very closely with the United Nations. In fact, I am going to speak to the Secretary-General shortly. He is a good man, and I have had a good relationship with him," Trump said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is currently in India for the India AI Impact Summit.
Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza is perceived as a rival to the UN. The US leader has previously stated that the Board of Peace "might" replace the UN, which he said has never lived up to its potential.
Addressing the event, which was attended by leaders of the nations that have joined the organization, Trump said that Washington will be working very closely with the United Nations.
"We are going to bring them back. I think the United Nations has great potential, really great potential. It has not lived up to its potential," Trump said, adding that for the eight wars he "settled" in the first year of his second term, he "never" spoke to the UN about even one of them, when in fact he should have spoken to the global body about all of them.
"Someday, I won't be here. The United Nations will be… will be much stronger. The Board of Peace is going to almost be overseeing the United Nations and ensuring that it functions properly.
"But we are going to strengthen the United Nations. We are going to ensure that its facilities are good. They need help, and they need help financially. We are going to help them financially, and we are going to ensure that the United Nations is viable," Trump said.
The US is the largest financial contributor to the United Nations, responsible for about 22 per cent of the world body's regular budget and about 25 per cent of the peacekeeping budget.
However, the US also owes about USD four billion to the world organization and has not yet paid its assessed dues.
Trump has been critical of the UN and has withdrawn Washington from several UN agencies, including the World Health Organisation.
The US President said that there are some very good people at the UN, and the world body can do a good job.
"I've said it for years, the United Nations has tremendous potential," he said, adding that while many people have said they don't care about the UN, "...No, it's really very important, and I think it's going to eventually live up to potential. That will be a big day."
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, previously said that while he is not aware of any UN presence at the Board of Peace meeting in Washington, "We are working for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolution, which mentions the Board of Peace in relation to Gaza, and we continue to engage with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and all those with potential influence on the humanitarian situation on the ground."
