26 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL LTG: When I arrived in New York in 2021, I found a UN that was very uncomfortable about where the United States was as a member state. During the first Trump administration, the U.S. had pulled out of the World Health Organization. We had pulled out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. We had pulled out of the Paris Agreement. And we had pulled out of the Human Rights Commission. I was charged with rebuilding confidence in the United States’ commitment to the UN, and over the course of four years I think I was able to achieve that. The new U.S. ambassador to the UN is walking a very, very tight rope of keeping U.S. leadership at the table and ensuring that our priorities are addressed—all while having a president who does not have confidence in the United Nations and has indicated in many conversations that the UN does not serve a purpose. I always advocated for a UN that is fit for purpose to deal with the crises of the world including Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine. To do this, the United States must be at the forefront and in a leadership role, so the ambassador is going to have to figure out how to thread this needle that he has been given, to keep the U.S. in the forefront and also be loyal to the priorities of the president. FSJ: Switching gears a bit, how can AFSA best serve the Foreign Service community at a time when its union status is under challenge? LTG: AFSA is our representative. It is the organization that we look to in good times and bad times. We’re facing some very difficult times now, and it is more important than ever that AFSA be there for its members. We need AFSA. We need AFSA today, and we will need AFSA tomorrow. The Role of Diplomacy and Diplomats FSJ: What do you wish more Americans understood about the role of diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service? LTG: The truth is that most Americans don’t understand the role of the U.S. Foreign Service and most Americans don’t know what Foreign Service officers [FSOs] do to represent the United States overseas. They may find out if they’re traveling, but the vast majority of Americans are not traveling. We are there to protect American citizens who are overseas. We’re also there to represent the interest of our government and our people. Many American farmers, for example, are dealing with issues of their products not being bought. It is diplomats, working with the leadership of the White House, who will address those issues with foreign countries. Americans who travel overseas and get arrested know that they can depend on a U.S. diplomat. Earlier in my career as an FSO, I visited many American citizens who had been arrested and ensured that their rights were preserved. I assisted American citizens who had relatives pass away overseas and needed U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield greets President Joe Biden at United Nations Headquarters for the UN General Assembly on September 19, 2023, in New York City. WHITE HOUSE/ADAM SCHULTZ
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