New UN chief wants consensus but faces antagonistic Trump
UNITED NATIONS - Antonio Guterres takes the reins of the United Nations on New Year's Day, promising to be a "bridge-builder" but facing an antagonistic incoming US administration led by Donald Trump who thinks the world body's 193 member states do nothing except talk and have a good time.
The former Portuguese prime minister and UN refugee chief says he will engage all governments and show his willingness to cooperate on "the enormous challenges that we'll be facing together."
But Trump has shown little interest in multilateralism, which Guterres calls the UN's "cornerstone," and a great attachment to the Republicans' "America First" agenda.
So as Guterres begins his five-year term facing conflicts from Syria to South Sudan and global crises including terrorism, US support for the United Nations remains a question mark.
