Iran and north korea, and how the un is responding to the coronavirus pandemic. This is from the Aspen Institute annual security for him. We are privileged to have with us the current Us Ambassador to the United Nations, kelly craft. This is the first time the aspen security form has been able to host the Us Ambassador to the un so we are particularly grateful to you for making the time. Kevin kelly craft hails from the great state of kentucky and served as our permanent representative to the United Nations since september of 2019. Before then she was Us Ambassador to canada for two years and during that time, very complex time, she worked on the revisiting of the nafta treaty now known as the usmexico canada agreement. The interview ambassador craft we have a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion covering National Security in foreign policy. Ambassador craft, we look forward to hearing your views on the Trump Administrations engagement with the United Nations and other international institutions, the critical upcoming vote, possibly extending the iran arms embargo and all your great efforts to restore aid to syria in spite of chinese and russian opposition, over to you, thank you. Sorry about that. Thank you for doing this. I thought i would start with a question having to deal with the 30,000 foot view, the 70 fifth anniversary of the United Nations, an organization that started with a lot of ambition, in part to prevent interstate conflicts but also to promote basic democratic values. When i interview your predecessor at the end of 2018, she said the verdict was out whether the United Nations in the us still served us interests. I wanted to get your view on this question now that you have been in the job. What do you think, has the un lived up to its founding principles and do you think the organization and us participation in the organization serves american interests . Thank you for that question. If we were not having a monsoon rain i was walk the ipad over so you can see your view of the east river and the un compound i see when i wake up. I cant imagine looking from the 30 seventh floor of my residence and not seeing the un compound and that not being here in new york city and the United States of america and it is important the institution is located in new york, in the United States because it gives the us the opportunity is the host country to be face to face with likeminded countries and countries we dont ci to eye with so we can shine a light. Can you imagine the un not been located here or being located in china . My predecessors have all said it is discouraging at times. We are discouraged at times that people dont see the founding principles of the un charter but at the same time that is what we are here to do, to promote our Founding Fathers in the 70 fifth anniversary, we signed the un charter. In 1971 china of all countries reaffirmed their commitment to the un charter and the un declaration of human rights. I cant imagine the un being located anywhere, i was hoping i could build on my predecessor and not necessarily have affection but gained respect and continuing to shine a light on countries that view like others. Following up on that the Trump Administration and before that george w. Bush had a long tradition of American Ambassadors being frustrated with un bureaucracy, seeking reforms. Can you talk about the reform agenda and how much you have accomplished in that regard . How do you approach reforming the United Nations . In trumps first address to the United NationsGeneral Assembly he made a big point you cant live up to these principles without reforms, fill us in on what you have been doing in this regard. I go back to my predecessors, the fact that she first acknowledged that there was waste and we need to reform the United Nations, then i go to negroponte who took upon her words and opening the doors to reform and to actually acknowledge the fact that the institutions need a lot of help. We need to institute transparency, accountability, cost out areas where there is a lot of financial waste, we have an obligation to the american taxpayers to not only modernize the secretariat and the un as an institution but to hold them accountable for our dollars in the tax dollars of the countries and contribute in countries. We are the largest contributor to the United Nations and it is important to build upon my predecessors and make certain we hold them accountable because accountability only results in actions that are going to initiate positive reinforcement. How do you hold un bodies that are answerable to other nations or for that Matter International institutions accountable . What are some of the ways the United States can do that . First and foremost we have to focus on implementing more americans within the un system, the secretariat, not just americans but likeminded countries. As in unicef when you have americans at the helm of organizations you have accountability, you have transparency and until we are able to place more americans in likeminded countries in the system there is always the question, are they being fully transparent . Our tax dollars being used according to the mandate whether it is a peacekeeping mission or any of the ngos. That is foremost and we need to pull in Public Private partnerships within the system because i can tell you the private enterprise, private industry, private individuals are going to demand transparency and accountability and we will pull out of organizations where we dont think our funding is being used appropriately as weve shown in the past and will continue to do so. It is important for all Member States to demand transparency and accountability for their taxpayers as well. This dovetails into my next question, mike pompeo has really had almost a Public Awareness campaign about the Chinese Communist party. A big focus of that has been on the Human International organization and trying to compete for the leadership and key personnel in these organizations. In some cases the World Health Organization which trump has pulled us out of. Can you give us a sense where the campaign is and what in your view, where is room for improvement . Lets go back to 2015 during Donald Trumps campaign. This was one of his platforms, shining a light on china whether it is china stealing from our economy, our intellectual property, it is all about china and this is just a continuation of the president s platform, the secretary every day we are shining a light on the way china is behaving whether it be the who, the United States, the largest contributor of who and that is a mouthpiece for china and why we withdrew from the who. We are working very hard on different organizations during the election cycle to make sure the chinese, that their candidate does not win because the more people we can have in the un system that are americans or likeminded countries the more transparency and the more we are able to shine a light on shine and it is daily they are abusing the rights of others or the units, increasing their contribution to manipulate the system, not to lift up other countries with the us as the number one priority at the un. It is to manipulate the system to their own agenda and the general secretary xi in the communist party of china want to bring in their ideals and what wants to bring in their people. We cannot allow this to happen. Every day i am in the council we will be shining a light on china and other countries but also are abusing the rights of others and abusing the system. On that point, there is good public reporting on how china conducts its own diplomacy, they get personal, they offer bribes, loans and all kinds of things to secure votes for chinese chosen leaders and other things like that. Tell me how the United States does this. Do we play hardball. We dont need to play hardball. Every day we shine a light on china, from washington, from the administration, that is allowing Member States to see china may come in and offer help but also ownership. They come under shiny projects and low return. Looking at the continent of africa they are becoming clued in to the fact when china comes in they take with them more than they leave. When latin america, the pacific islands, we lead with communities intact, we leave with the building up of communities, of sustainability and that is what we are focused on. That is more important, we provide action. With varioUs Ambassadors and so forth, diplomacy has to be done discreetly but walk us through, china is not in your longterm interests that are based on principle. All the things that will be tangible to smaller countries that choose to vote with the United States was it would not be the first time the United States is done that. I want to get a sense how it works on the nittygritty level. The way i choose my daily interaction is building relationships with some of the smaller countries. Regardless of the fact of the relationship with china. We have to show them action. I have to show interest in their country and their needs and then i will take it to the administration, whether it be to the Development Areas of the administration where we can come in and help build, most important way to a sustainable community. When i first arrived, i took a lot of acknowledgment from george h ws book and how he arrived at the un and reached out to smaller companies, he himself witnessed it as did ambassador negroponte. I did the same thing and until covid19 i was seeing them facetoface. I used it to reach out via text and owned other Member States and just to have a conversation, they need to be listened to, they need to be acknowledged that they matter. The votes come later. When you develop a relationship you dont have to ask for the votes because you have the groundfloor. We asked someone for a vote and you dont have that relationship built, these are smart people who are there for a reason. They are diplomats and i want them to understand we respect that and their relationship matters to me and the vote will come later. I want to move on to the middle east. As you know and you have been working on, in october, the un conventional arms embargo will sunset. It has been a high priority and for a lot of us allies in the region to make sure the arms embargo remains so at this point do you think you will be able to persuade china and russia not to veto a new resolution. It is crucial at any point. We have a choice between freedom and charity. We have an obligation to protect the arab countries, to protect israel and the european countries. Russia and china do not want iran to have access to nuclear weapons. We all are aware this is a rogue regime. Look no further than the way they treat their own people. We want to protect the iranian people, people in yemen, syria, libya, lebanon, venezuela. I could go on and on where this regime is going in and only adding fuel to the little fires they have set themselves. It is important we started early because this is a crucial issue that will affect the world for generations to come. China and russia have threatened to veto but they understand there is a choice here and this is a choice they will have to make. They will have blood on their hands. They understand we have a talent pool it feels adamantly about their choice of freedom and this is something we have been working on, brian who will be speaking at the Aspen Institute will speak more technically. What i have been doing is reaching out to the Security Council and reemphasizing the importance that there is a choice between freedom and tyranny and this is a choice that will affect millions of people around the world and everyone understands that. To persuade the chinese and russians to change their mind or isolate them on the Security Council, to show that yes, they may have to use the retail but assuming france and the United Kingdom and other members on your side of it, the strategy that you think there is some diplomacy that will get them to exercise the veto or do you just want to hide from it . The strategy will always be to have them not veto but lets be realistic here. Right now the strategy of working with other members of the Security Council and making certain we really as we did in syria with crossborder issue put them in a corner and shine a light on them. This is a choice and everyone will know this is a choice between tierney and freedom and we will allow the world to see the choice china and russia will make as we did with the crossborder issues. 13 of us gathered together to obtain one. We were adamant about keeping the border issue in syria as we will be about promoting freedom and keeping the rogue regimes in iran from affecting the many countries they already are engaged in and protecting the freedom and security of israel and the arab countries. Maybe i am getting it wrong but it seems you are saying or trying to morally almost shame the chinese and russians, if you choose to stand by this blood will be on your hands but do you think shame work works with russia, what has been asides air force since 2015 with china that is conducting this campaign of concentration camps . These are powers that dont have moral considerations. Why do you think shame would work or they would care given their history of voting in the past on this one . It is important to show the other Member States. This happens to be a topic that will affect the world. We made it clear to the Security Council and the secretary and the president , their priority in showing the world we are here to protect the freedom of the iranian people, the middle east, israel, and russia and china will be they are. I will not be able to change their minds. What we can do is change the way other countries look to them and look at them and that is what is important and honestly there is a choice there. My job is to make certain we hold accountable russia and china and that we truly shine a light on them. If we dont shame them who is going to shame them . Will stand up to china propaganda, russias propaganda. This is why the American Ambassador is so important within the un system and hope we have the likeminded countries that stands with us. There is more power altogether especially in the un system. Im here in a journalistic capacity. This is not my view but plenty of people would say what standing does the United States under donald trump have these arguments . The United States took out soleimani in a baghdad airport, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the iran nuclear deal, why is the United States lecturing other countries on morality and statecraft. Im sure you encounter those but what is your response to that . We have an obligation as americans was we were founded on democracy, rule of law. We have an obligation to use every tool in our toolbox to call out rogue regimes to protect the citizens of these countries, the iranian people, the people in syria from the assad regime. In iran, libya, lebanon, venezuela, they are the reason for so many atrocities not only to their own people but around the world and with the founding principles at the un, we have an obligation to promote freedom and democracy, peace and security around the world. Okay. I agree with that but how would you respond to saying the United States has acted unilaterally with the steps in iraq against soleimani, theres an argument in this country, a lot of people think trump is a rogue leader. I want to know when you encounter that what do you say . My response is this president cares first about the safety and security of the american people. We are on a world stage, we are the leader of the free world. The president ran on this in 2016 in calling out rogue regimes. Minding our own people and building up our own economy, our defense, building america, we can then take what we have built upon and make certain we implement this around the world. I do this frequently, there is no one who is a better defend her of democracy and rule of law in the world than donald trump and mike pompeo and i will never apologize for our mannerisms and i tell you now, when the un fails to promote democracy i will do whatever it takes to defend democracy. Moving on i want you to tell me a little about what can the United NationsSecurity Council do in regards to venezuela . We know Nicholas Maduro has called for what will probably almost certainly be sham elections. Can you talk about the role for the un to play in the transition of democracy for venezuela . Is you know the United States and several other Member States support guido and his presidency in the national assembly. The us is the largest contributor to humanitaria