Nikki Haley
US permanent representative to the United Nations
Background
Nikki Haley stands out in a field of Trump nominees who are overwhelmingly wealthy and elderly white men. The South Carolina governor is 45, and the daughter of Indian Sikh parents. Compared with her rivals for the job of representing the US at the UN, she is not seen as highly ideological, nor does she have much diplomatic experience, although several ambassadors at the UN have said they have had dealings with her as governor.
In the course of the hearings, she will be closely questioned on her knowledge of the world’s flashpoints and scrutinised on whether she shares Trump’s world view, especially on Russia.
Key points to watch for
Relations with Russia: The relationship between the US and Russian representatives on the UN security council is central to the functioning of the body. Haley will be questioned on how she might improve that relationship and whether that would mean no longer holding Moscow to account for Ukraine, Syria and hacking the US election. Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said he had not discussed Russia with Trump. Has Haley?
Israel-Palestine: Expect Haley to lambast the security council and the Obama administration in general over the 23 December resolution condemning Israeli settlement building on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. This will rack up easy points with Senate Republicans.
Syria: Haley may begin to sketch out how a Trump administration would seek to work with Russia to bring an end to the war in Syria, and to what extent that would imply support for Bashar al-Assad.
North Korea: Trump has said that North Korea will not build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental US. Haley will inevitably be asked how the new administration would go about ensuring that.
Usefulness of the UN: Haley will sound a sceptical tone on the UN, but will presumably describe it as capable of redemption, or otherwise why would her post have cabinet rank?
