US envoy Steve Witkoff briefed members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday regarding various pressing topics, including Gaza. Participants in the closed-door talks confirmed the details to AFP. The informal meeting took place in New York, just one day after Witkoff was sworn in as President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East.
Witkoff, a billionaire developer and a Trump ally, leads US negotiations on disputes like the Israel-Hamas conflict, Russia-Ukraine war, and Iran’s nuclear program.
Ambassadors Respond to Briefing
Following the Wednesday meeting, ambassadors representing the other 14 UN Security Council members declined to provide details about Witkoff’s briefing. Pakistani Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, when asked about the meeting, simply stated that it was confidential and provided no additional information. In contrast, Panamanian Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba described the session as an informal and interesting discussion covering various subjects, not just Gaza. Trump’s return to office in January left the US without a permanent ambassador to the UN, a position still vacant. This ongoing vacancy complicates efforts by other Security Council members to grasp current US policies on key global issues, diplomats note.
Strengthening US-Israel Ties
In addition to the Security Council briefing, Witkoff also met separately with Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon. Following their discussion, Danon remarked that they had an “important discussion about the regional issues.” He further stated, “We will continue to cooperate with our strongest ally, the United States.” This collaboration underscores the ongoing commitment between the two nations amid complex geopolitical challenges.
