The Trump administration’s approach to the United Nations has been marked by both rhetoric and retreat. While officials insist that U.S. President Donald Trump envisions a return to the U.N.’s founding principles of maintaining international peace and security, the policy specifics remain elusive. What is clear, however, is that Washington’s actions reflect a shift toward a more transactional, power-driven use of the international body—one that favors big-power dealmaking at the expense of multilateralism.
The Trump administration has made no secret of its dissatisfaction with the U.N., systematically pulling the United States out of key multilateral commitments. It has withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), defunded agencies that focus on human rights, and announced a full-scale review of U.S. multilateral obligations, including the U.N. Charter itself. Such moves indicate a broader strategy: Washington is seeking to reshape the U.N. into a mechanism that serves its immediate national interests rather than an institution that fosters global cooperation.
This strategy became even more apparent last week, on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Traditionally, the U.N. General Assembly has been a stage for collective condemnation of aggressors and an affirmation of international norms. The Biden administration had previously supported resolutions that reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, Trump’s approach suggests a departure from this collective stance, instead signaling that the U.N. could be a forum where great powers dictate the terms of engagement, sidelining smaller nations and their concerns.
Preserving Multilateralism and Justice
We believe that the integrity of the U.N. must not be sacrificed on the altar of unilateralism. The United Nations, for all its flaws, remains one of the last bastions of collective diplomacy, providing a platform for weaker nations to voice their concerns and influence global decisions. The Trump administration’s efforts to undermine multilateralism and restructure the U.N. into a tool of great-power politics threaten the very essence of global cooperation and peacebuilding.
The Islamic world, particularly nations that have suffered from unilateral interventions and geopolitical maneuvering, should be deeply concerned. If the U.N. is remolded into a vehicle for power politics, then smaller nations—many of them in the Global South—will find themselves increasingly marginalized. This trend is dangerous, not only for Muslim-majority countries but for all states that rely on international law and institutions to uphold their sovereignty and rights.
The Need for Reform—But Not at the Cost of Integrity
Yes, the United Nations requires reform. The Security Council’s structure, the inefficiency of certain U.N. agencies, and its inability to prevent major conflicts all point to the need for change. However, reform must be inclusive, transparent, and aimed at strengthening multilateralism—not at dismantling it.
The Trump administration’s vision appears to be one of selective engagement: withdrawing from commitments that uphold human rights and international development while using the U.N. as a battleground for power politics. This double standard weakens the moral and diplomatic credibility of the U.S. and threatens global stability. If Washington is truly committed to a U.N. centered on peace, then it must reaffirm its commitment to international cooperation rather than coercion.
A Call to Action
The Islamic Economist urges all nations, especially those in the developing world, to resist efforts that erode the U.N.’s impartiality. The world cannot afford a United Nations that serves only the powerful while neglecting its broader mission to uphold peace and security for all. Leaders of the Global South, including those from the Muslim world, must push for genuine reform that preserves the U.N.’s role as a fair arbiter of international law and diplomacy.
The Trump administration’s attempt to remake the U.N. must be critically examined. If the organization is to continue as a force for global peace, its leadership must not capitulate to unilateral interests. The Islamic Economist stands firmly against any efforts to dilute multilateralism, urging all stakeholders to protect the fundamental principles of justice, equity, and peace that the U.N. was founded upon.
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