Ukraine war: US agenda for UN Security Council includes digital technology and isolating Russia
- Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield discusses the priorities for Washington as it assumes the council leadership for a month
- US takes the helm as pressure mounts on the UN to limit the war in Ukraine and its global collateral damage
The United States will focus its latest UN Security Council presidency on humanitarian help, food shortages, digital transformation and isolating Russia diplomatically until it ends its invasion of Ukraine, Washington’s top UN diplomat said on Tuesday.
The remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield came as the US assumed the one-month rotating council leadership after Britain’s tenure ended April 30. While Thomas-Greenfield did not mention China by name, several initiatives she outlined involved Beijing, including efforts to transform the United Nations’ digital approach.
“We have to be mindful of both the benefits and the risk of digital technology,” she said. “Some governments regulate for good and other governments regulate so that they can control what their people do, what their people say, how they move.
“So we want a set of governing regulations that will not allow governments to abuse the human rights of their people.”
China has been a pioneer in the use of facial recognition software, biomedical tracking and censorship to prevent “social instability”, control information and check mobility.
Thomas-Greenfield provided few details on the digital initiative, but said the US would host a May 23 council “signature event” intended to address its use and impact on UN peace and security operations – particularly with an eye towards Ukraine and the spread of misinformation.
