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United States Ambassador to the United Nations

United States Ambassador to the United Nations: Roles, Responsibilities, and Key Ambassadors

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations (USUN) is a crucial diplomatic position representing the United States on the global stage. This article delves into the roles, responsibilities, and key ambassadors who have held this esteemed position over the years.

1. The Role of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations plays a multifaceted role, with the following responsibilities:

a. Diplomatic Representation: The ambassador is the official representative of the United States to the United Nations, participating in various UN bodies and forums.

b. Advocacy and Negotiation: Ambassadors advocate for U.S. positions and engage in diplomatic negotiations to advance American interests and objectives at the UN.

c. Security Council Engagement: The ambassador represents the U.S. at the UN Security Council, addressing global security issues and, when necessary, exercising the power of veto.

d. Promoting Human Rights: Ambassadors work to promote and protect human rights worldwide, including addressing issues like religious freedom, gender equality, and conflict-related human rights abuses.

e. Aid and Development: They engage in discussions related to international development and humanitarian aid, contributing to policy decisions that affect global aid efforts.

2. Notable U.S. Ambassadors to the United Nations

Over the years, the U.S. has had several prominent individuals serve as ambassadors to the UN. Some notable ambassadors include:

a. Madeleine Albright: Serving from 1993 to 1997, Madeleine Albright was the first woman to hold the position. She played a pivotal role in issues like the Kosovo conflict and advocated for UN reform.

b. Richard Holbrooke: Holbrooke served as U.S. Ambassador to the UN from 1999 to 2001, during a crucial period that included the Kosovo conflict and the post-9/11 world.

c. Samantha Power: Serving as ambassador from 2013 to 2017, Samantha Power championed issues related to human rights, particularly in the context of Syria’s civil war and the conflict in Ukraine.

d. Nikki Haley: Nikki Haley served as ambassador from 2017 to 2018, advocating for the U.S. position on Israel and standing up to human rights abuses in countries like Venezuela and Myanmar.

e. Linda Thomas-Greenfield: Linda Thomas-Greenfield is the current U.S. Ambassador to the UN, bringing her extensive diplomatic experience to address key global issues, including climate change and international conflicts.

3. Challenges and Opportunities

The role of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is not without challenges, and opportunities for effective diplomacy exist. Some of these challenges and opportunities include:

a. Multilateral Diplomacy: The U.S. Ambassador must navigate the complexities of multilateral diplomacy, building coalitions, and finding common ground with other UN member states.

b. Security Council Dynamics: With a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the U.S. Ambassador must balance national interests with broader international security objectives.

c. Human Rights Advocacy: The ambassador plays a key role in promoting human rights, advocating for policies that address abuses and violations worldwide.

d. Climate Change and Global Challenges: Addressing global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and conflict resolution requires effective diplomatic engagement and collaboration within the UN.

e. UN Reform: Opportunities exist to advocate for UN reform and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.

4. Future of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

The role of the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations will continue to evolve in response to changing global dynamics. With emerging challenges like climate change, pandemics, and international security threats, the ambassador’s role remains crucial in advancing American interests and global stability.

Conclusion

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations holds a significant role in shaping international diplomacy, advocating for American interests, and promoting global stability. The history of U.S. ambassadors to the UN is marked by notable individuals who have made substantial contributions to global peace, security, and human rights. As global challenges and opportunities continue to evolve, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations remains a key figure in the nation’s diplomatic efforts on the world stage.


The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the face of America at the United Nations General Assembly. The United States has a permanent position in the United Nations General Assembly; therefore this is an incredibly important role in international diplomacy.

Former United States Ambassadors to the United Nations have been prominent U.S. politicians and diplomats. Past United States Ambassadors to the United Nations include Henry Cabot Lodge, Adlai Stevenson, George H. W. Bush, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Madeleine Albright, and Bill Richardson. In the Clinton administration, the position of United States Ambassador to the United Nations was a cabinet level position; it is the same way under Obama’s administration as well; it was not a cabinet position under George W. Bush. The incumbent United States Ambassador to the United Nations under Obama’s administration is Susan Rice. Prior to being the United States Ambassador to the United Nations she was the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Adviser to President Clinton on national security, and the Foreign Policy Advisor to the presidential campaigns of Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, and Barack Obama.

In this position, Susan Rice will be one of the most well known faces in Obama’s administration to the outside world. As the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice will be a strong and forceful advocate of stronger action. She has been especially vocal about the crisis in Darfur, and it is on her agenda to stop the killings. This is an especially delicate position for Susan Rice, after the Bush administration left United States relations with the UN somewhat tense. Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton under the Bush administration did not offer a comment about Obama’s selection but did voice some concern that it was going to be a cabinet level position. According to John Bolton, it will overstate the importance the United Nations should have on United State foreign policy.

It really must be reiterated that during this time, the selection of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations is quite integral. The Bush administration left a slightly sour taste in their mouth with disregard for many recommendations. One of the most well known United States Ambassadors to the United Nations under the Bush administration was John Bolton and as mentioned in the quote above his views towards to United Nations are not very positive. In fact, John Bolton has been a staunch critic of the United Nations for a large part of his career. His exact words are: “There is no such thing as the United Nations, There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States.” Naturally, those views don’t go very far in an international body where countries are all considered equal. Therefore, selecting the United States Ambassador to the United Nations is a very important decision and it is important that the new representative is somebody who is willing to work with the United Nations to reach a general consensus instead of viewing America as the sole power. The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is a very critical role as it represents America to the international community. The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is essentially our ambassador to the world in many ways, therefore one cannot underestimate the value of this decision and the responsibility that Susan Rice has.