'Back US or we'll take names'
Washington's new ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, vowed Friday to show US strength, bluntly warning those who oppose President Donald Trump's policies that she is "taking names" and will respond.
Meanwhile, Trump signed an order Friday to begin what he called a "great rebuilding" of the US armed services, promising new aircraft, naval ships and more resources for the military.
"Our military strength will be questioned by no one, but neither will our dedication to peace. We do want peace," Trump said in a ceremony at the Pentagon.
The former South Carolina governor served notice that the new US administration will push for an overhaul of the United Nations, in her first remarks at UN headquarters.
"Our goal with the administration is to show value at the UN, and the way that we will show value is to show our strength, show our voice, have the backs of our allies and make sure that our allies have our back as well," Haley said.
"For those who don't have our backs: we're taking names," she added. "We will make points to respond to that accordingly."
The 45-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants made clear that some cuts were in store at the world body, which critics describe as a bloated, ineffective bureaucracy.
The United States is by far the UN's biggest financial contributor, providing 22 percent of its operating budget and funding 28 percent of peacekeeping missions, which currently cost $7.8 billion annually.
The White House is reportedly preparing an executive order that could deprive the United Nations of billions of dollars in US financial support.
In his pledge to pursue an "America First" foreign policy, Trump has dismissed the United Nations as "just a club for people to get together and have a good time."
Tough-talking Haley echoed that stance, promising "fresh eyes, new strength, new vision" as the US envoy.
The order Trump signed Friday was less specific, calling for a sweeping 30-day readiness review of the US military, with the aim of preparing new budget requests to improve readiness.
Trump made clear during last year's presidential campaign and in recent weeks that he wants to enlarge the ranks of the military services and expand its fleets of aircraft and ships.
For example, he said he envisioned a naval fleet of 350 vessels, up from the navy's current 274 and more than its 310 vessel target.
And Trump excluded the military from a hiring freeze across the rest of the government that he ordered just after being inaugurated president on January 20.
He is also expected to order his new defense secretary, James Mattis, to intensify operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria with more US soldiers and military hardware like artillery and attack helicopters.
Another expected move is to review and the strengthen the country's ability to defend itself against cyberattacks and to conduct offensive cyberattacks itself.
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