U.S. President Donald Trump is shown on a monitor during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2019 in New York City.  (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

The annual United Nation's General Assembly (UNGA) this past week brought together allies and adversaries from around the world to address issues and solve conflicts facing their nations. While their task was as seemingly nightmarish as the Midtown Manhattan traffic they caused, Hudson's experts have taken a look at what was said, what was accomplished, and what's next after UNGA.

Unpacking UNGA

Hudson experts on the major outcomes from UNGA:

Patrick Cronin:

"From world leaders to 16-year-old climate activists, UNGA demonstrated the power of the pulpit.  The U.S. President was at his best when he propounded a positive vision highlighting peace, democracy, and religious freedom.  However, we are the values we act upon and not merely the words we utter, especially those delivered at an annual multilateral gathering.  There was palpable concern about the forces tearing apart international institutions and blocking cooperation." 

Nina Shea:

"[President Trump's announcement of $25m in religious freedom aid signals] to both the American people and the world that religious freedom is a domestic and foreign policy concern, and human rights concern. It comes at a time when it is very clear that we are entering a new era of intense religious persecution. It started about 15 years ago with events in the Middle East, and now the upsurge in China and Sub Sahara Africa.”

Amb. Husain Haqqani:

“It was a busy week at UNGA for Pakistan PM Imran Khan, who met with President Trump and participated in bilateral meetings with American officials. Pakistan did not get the support over Kashmir it might have desired, but its earlier isolation has been broken.” 

Aparna Pande:

“For the first time ever, a foreign-minister level quad meeting took place between the U.S., India, Japan and Australia, to explore security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific against Chinese influences. This is a noteworthy outcome, along with the “Howdy Modi” event that strengthened ties between PM Narendra Modi and President Trump.”

Peter Rough:

"The UN General Assembly has become a multilayered affair. This year was no different: While the U.S. focused on traditional statecraft – expelling Cuban spies, cordoning Iranian officials, and exposing Venezuelan thugs – UN officials and western Europeans raised alternative issues like climate change while exploring an Alliance for Multilateralism."

Nate Sibley:

“Hangover cures, pink-eyed terminators, and limbless chickens: British PM Boris Johnson wanted to talk about literally anything except Brexit in his UNGA address. But it came just hours after the UK Supreme Court ruled the PM’s prorogation of parliament unlawful, necessitating his early return to London. Domestic chaos will continue to overshadow British foreign policy for the foreseeable future.”

Want to learn more? Check out Hudson's recent work on the United Nations:

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