UN head: American ‘soft power’ is fading

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres suggested in an interview published Thursday that the United States is losing some of its influence in the world.

“I think that the soft power of the United States … is being reduced at the present moment,” Guterres told The Atlantic, adding that there’s “no way to solve most of the problems in the world without” America.

Guterres, who has clashed with President Trump over climate change and immigration, did not mention the president by name during the interview or specifically criticize him, The Atlantic reported. However, Guterres alluded to some conflicts that have arisen since Trump took office. 

{mosads}“The United States is today involved in a number of conflicts of different natures—in relation to trade, in relation to other situations—and indeed that means that the … attraction of American society that was a dominant factor in international relations just a few decades ago is today less clear,” Guterres said.

The Trump administration has taken a more skeptical approach to U.S. involvement with the United Nations.

The administration withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council earlier this year, claiming the entity was hypocritical in its treatment of Israel while failing to take action against human rights offenders.

The president and his allies have been frequently critical of the U.N., NATO and similar ally organizations, arguing that the U.S. contributes significant resources without reaping adequate benefits in return.

Trump will attend the U.N.’s annual general assembly meeting next week in New York, where he is expected to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, among other leaders.