Harris and Trump Must Meet... Foreign Leaders Struggle Amid Ultra-Close US Election

Hope for meetings from dozens of countries
Both sides focus on election campaigns... "Priority and timing issues"

World leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week are eagerly trying to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. They aim to get to know the next U.S. leader in advance and gain hints about the future direction of U.S. foreign policy.

On the 22nd (local time), CNN reported that according to sources close to Vice President Harris and former President Trump, dozens of countries have reached out hoping to arrange meetings ahead of the UN General Assembly.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Some countries even stated they would adjust their schedules for the talks. Both camps indicated that additional meetings could be added. Sources close to former President Trump said he might meet foreign leaders without prior announcement.

However, Vice President Harris currently has no plans to attend the UN General Assembly. It is also unclear whether former President Trump will visit New York.

So far, the only foreign leader confirmed to meet both Vice President Harris and former President Trump is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. President Zelensky has appealed for continued support against Russia’s invasion not only to the two candidates but also to President Joe Biden, who is in the final phase of his term.

Vice President Harris plans to meet with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Washington DC on the 23rd. The UAE is a crucial partner with whom the U.S. must cooperate to end the Gaza Strip war and stabilize the Middle East situation.

On the same day, former President Trump announced via his social media that he met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Qatar is a key mediator in the Gaza war ceasefire agreement.

Former President Trump said, "The Emir is someone who strongly desires peace in the Middle East and worldwide. We maintained a good relationship for several years while I was in the White House, and this time it will be even stronger."

Additionally, former President Trump plans to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom he is known to have a close relationship. Polish President Andrzej Duda was scheduled to meet former President Trump in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania but the meeting was canceled.

With the November election just around the corner and the need to focus on campaigning, CNN assessed that which foreign leaders the two candidates will meet depends on priorities and timing.

Staff from both sides explained that neither candidate feels the need to emphasize diplomatic expertise. Vice President Harris has gained diplomatic experience during her four years in office, and former President Trump has already served one term as president. Unlike before, neither Harris nor Trump has embarked on overseas trips before the election to showcase leadership on the world stage.

Above all, for American voters, domestic issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion are far more important than global issues like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. This is why attending the UN General Assembly is being postponed.

John Alterman, Senior Vice President overseeing the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, "President Biden will attend the UN General Assembly but is in a lame-duck state, and I do not expect former President Trump or Vice President Harris to attend. The UN General Assembly has already become a secondary matter. It is not a major event."