Duval Times

On June 6, 2024, the United Nations (UN) selected the Maduro regime’s appointed UN Ambassador as one of the UN General Assembly Vice Presidents. This decision has drawn criticism from U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not support such appointments and to hold the UN accountable for what he perceives as systemic failures.

“I write to express profound outrage regarding the recent actions of the United Nations (UN) that support and promote the interests of authoritarians, terrorists, and their sympathizers through U.S. taxpayer funds,” Rubio stated in his letter. “I believe these actions are grossly irresponsible and counterproductive to the interests of global peace, security, and democracy.”

The letter specifically criticizes the appointment of Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada as one of the Vice Presidents of the UN General Assembly. Rubio views this appointment as an example of what he calls "the UN’s disregard for democratic values and human rights."

Rubio's letter continues by highlighting other concerns with recent UN decisions: “The inclusion of countries with dubious records on terrorism and human rights in the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council further erodes the credibility of these institutions.” He also mentions Alena Douhan's appointment as a Special Rapporteur on Coercive Measures and her statements following a visit to China advocating against unilateral sanctions.

“These moves are designed to serve as anti-U.S. guardrails and propaganda reference points for the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian agendas,” Rubio wrote.

Further exacerbating his concerns were reports indicating that resources from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were allegedly used by Hamas in a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Rubio concluded his letter by calling for a re-evaluation of U.S. funding to the UN: “American taxpayer dollars account for more than $18 billion per year to the UN, equaling one-third of its total budget... To empower terrorists and authoritarians is antithetical to these values and objectives.”

He urged President Biden to take decisive action: “I respectfully call on you to take decisive action to ensure that U.S. funding to the UN is contingent upon its adherence to these core principles.”

Rubio emphasized that maintaining international peace requires holding entities like the UN accountable: “The way to maintain international peace and security is not by supporting entities that threaten these very ideals but by holding them accountable.”