Trump chooses legislator Elise Stefanik to be the US ambassador to the UN

Republican lawmaker Elise Stefanik has been chosen to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations in the next US administration, according to a statement by President-elect Donald Trump to Reuters news agency on Monday.

"I am honored to nominate Elise Stefanik to serve in my cabinet as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is a strong and wise advocate for policies that put America first ," said President-elect Trump.

Forty-year-old Stefanik, a lawmaker from New York and chairwoman of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives, has been a strong ally of Mr. Trump. The United Nations is bracing for a return of Mr. Trump to power and the possible face of cuts in funding and American commitment to the organization during the Republican president's second term.

A reduction in US engagement at the UN could open the door to China, which has strengthened its influence in global diplomacy.

President-elect Trump has offered few details about foreign policy for his second term. However, his supporters say that the strength of his personality and his 'peace through strength' approach will help foreign leaders bend to his will. He has pledged to end the war in Ukraine and is expected to give strong support to Israel in its conflicts with militant groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Among the main concerns at the UN are whether the United States will decide to contribute less money to the 193-member world organization and withdraw from key multilateral institutions and agreements, including the World Health Organization and the Paris accord on the environment.

Ms. Stefanik assumed leadership within the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives in 2021, when she was elected to replace Legislator Liz Cheney. Ms. Cheney lost support after her criticism of Mr. Trump's unsubstantiated claims of rigging in the 2020 election.

She gained national attention when she defended Mr. Trump during the congressional impeachment inquiry against the former Republican President in 2019. Her defense of him prompted former President Trump to compare Ms. Stefanik to "a star who just was born", in politics.

Legislator Stefanik was the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Representatives. She won in a district that had twice voted for Democratic President Barack Obama and had been represented by Democrats in Congress since 1993.

She was seen as a possible vice-presidential candidate before Mr Trump chose Senator JD Vance.

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump said over the weekend that he would not ask former Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley to join his new cabinet.

Ms Haley served as US ambassador to the United Nations during Mr Trump's first term. She offered her support to Mr. Trump for president despite strongly criticizing him when she ran against him in the party primaries.

Mr. Trump is continuing to meet with potential candidates to serve in his administration before his inauguration as president on January 20./VOA