President Obama Should Pursue “Smart Multilateralism” at the U.N. General Assembly

Morgan Lorraine Roach / September 22, 2010

Nearly two years into his first term, President Obama has sought a foreign policy that has restrained America’s role on the world stage. Emphasizing a greater commitment to international institutions in handling security concerns, the Administration has relied on multilateral means for achieving this aim, primarily through the United Nations.

When attending the U.N. General Assembly, President Obama should keep in mind that multilateralism is only one of many tools in the diplomatic toolbox. This point is emphasized in former Assistant Secretary of State Kim Holmes’s chapter in ConUNdrum, “Smart Multilateralism: When and When Not to Rely on the United Nations.” (more…)