美國總統川普今天首次在聯合國大會發言，川普點名批評朝鮮、伊朗、委內瑞拉及古巴獨裁政權等。他對場內全球多國元首表明，如美國或其盟友迫於自衛，將會徹底摧毀朝鮮；川普並譴責共產主義災難性政權，由蘇聯至古巴至委內瑞拉，任何社會主義或共產國家，只會帶來痛苦、災難及失敗，並強調美國將和那些在殘暴政權下生活的人們站在一起。
秘書長大會主席尊敬的各國領袖和代表
歡迎大家來到紐約
我深感榮幸在我的家鄉城市
代表美國人民向世界人民講話
數百萬美國人還處在颶風災害的痛苦中
我要感謝在座各位領袖提供的援助
美國人民是堅韌的
會從這樣的困境中重新抬起頭比以往更堅定
幸運的是自去年11月8日選舉日之後
美國狀態很好股市創歷史新高
失業率十六年來的新低
因為我們取消了監管進行了一系列改革
美國現在是就業人口最多的時期
公司在回遷創造了更多工作機會
這也是多年沒有的好現象
最近剛剛宣布我們的國防預算將達到近7千億
我們的軍事力量也將超過以往
70多年來我們經歷了戰爭與和平
各國首腦各種運動和宗教的領袖
都曾來到聯大
像他們一樣
我今天要談到我們面臨的嚴重威脅
以及未來的巨大潛力
我們的時代有著特別的機會
科技發展和醫療的進步
解決了很多過去覺得不可能的難題
但是每天還是會出現不同的危險
威脅我們所珍視的價值
恐怖分子和極端分子在聚集力量
散布到世界各地
聯合國裡面的流氓政權在支持恐怖
以滅絕人性的武器
威脅到其他的國家
也威脅到自己的人民
那些當權者和獨裁國家
企圖破壞二戰後建立的
為防止衝突讓世界更加自由
的這套系統和聯盟
國際犯罪網絡在走私毒品武器販賣人口
造成大批難民潮
威脅到我們的邊境安全
甚至利用新技術威脅人身安全
簡而言之
我們處在巨大的危險和機會並存的時代
是讓世界提升到新的高度還是墮入絕望的深淵
取決於我們自己
我們有這個能力只要選擇正確
就可以讓數百萬人脫離貧困
讓人們實現夢想
讓新一代擺脫暴力仇恨恐懼
聯合國是在兩次世界大戰之後建立的
為了開創美好的未來
其願景是不同的國家可以合作
保護自己的主權安全同時帶來繁榮
也是70年前的同一時期
美國提出了馬歇爾計畫
幫助恢復歐洲秩序
提出維護和平的三個美好的價值
主權安全繁榮
馬歇爾計畫認為
如果各個國家強大獨立自由
整個世界會更安全
杜魯門總統當時對國會說
我們支持歐洲復興
和支持聯合國的主張是完全一致的
聯合國的成功需要各成員國都有力量
為了消除目前的威脅實現未來的目標
我們需要尋求古老的智慧
聯合國要成功
需要強大獨立擁有主權的各成員國合作
促進安全繁榮和平
為各國自己也為整個世界
我們並不是要求各國變成
同樣的文化同樣的傳統
或者同樣的體制和政府
但是我們希望各國履行主權國家的兩個核心職責
尊重自己人民的利益
尊重其他主權國家的權利
這是聯合國的美好願景
這也是合作與成功的基礎
強大的主權國家會與不同價值不同文化
不同夢想的其他國家共存
而且在互相尊重的基礎上合作
強大的主權國家讓自己的人民擁有未來
掌握自己的命運
強大的主權國家讓個體按照神的安排充分發展
在美國我們不會把自己的生活方式強加給任何人
而是以自己的方式發光作為大家的榜樣
本周我們更加有理由自豪
現在正是美國憲法230周年紀念
這是世界上還在使用的最古老的憲法
這份珍貴的文獻是美國和平繁榮自由的基礎
也讓世界其他國家無數的人獲得啟示
要尊重人性尊重人的尊嚴尊重法制
美國憲法最偉大的部分是開頭的幾個字
「我們人民」
為了維護這個信念幾代美國人做出了犧牲
這是我們國家也是我們偉大的歷史的承諾
在美國是由人民來管理來統治
人民擁有主權
我當選總統不是來掌權
而是把權力歸還給美國人民
本來就是屬於人民的
在外交事務上我們也在恢復主權原則
我們政府的首要責任是自己的人民
是我們的公民是為了他們的需要
保證他們的安全保護他們的權利
維護他們的價值
作為美國總統我要永遠美國優先
就像你們在座的各國領袖
也會也應該把自己的國家放在第一位
所有負責任的領袖都是要服務於自己的人民
讓國家機器成為提升人民生活的最好工具
當然給人民更好的生活需要我們團結合作
給所有人創造一個更安全更和平的未來。
美國永遠會是世界的朋友尤其對盟友
但是誰也別想占我們便宜
達成什麼單邊協議讓美國一無所獲
只要我在總統位子上
就會不顧一切維護美國的利益
當然在履行我們對美國人民的責任時
我們也認識到
所有國家擁有主權繁榮安全
會有利於每一個人
聯合國憲章所倡導的價值
美國人不只停留在口頭而是身體力行
為了保護我們的自由
保護在座很多國家的自由
美國人付出了巨大犧牲
戰場上可以看到美國人的付出
年輕計程車兵與我們的盟友並肩作戰犧牲
從歐洲的海灘中東的沙漠到亞洲的叢林
這永遠是美國精神的榮耀
因為即使在最殘酷的戰爭中獲勝
美國也沒有尋求領土擴張反對他人
或把我們的生活方式強加給他人
而是幫助建立像聯合國這樣的機構
維護所有國家的主權安全繁榮
為世界所有不同的國家這是我們的希望
我們希望和諧與友誼不希望衝突和爭鬥
我們看重的是後果而不是意識形態
我們策略是有原則的現實主義
以共同的目標利益價值為基礎
而現實使我們不得不面對
在座每個國家和領導人面臨的問題
這是我們無法逃避也無法迴避的問題
要麼自滿麻木的面對挑戰威脅甚至戰爭
一路滑下去
要麼拿出力量和尊嚴面對今天的危險
讓我們的人民能夠享受明天的和平與繁榮
如果我們的願望是提升人民的生活
獲得歷史的肯定
那就要履行國家的責任
那是對所代表的人民的責任
我們要保護我們的國家
保護國家的利益和未來
抵制對主權的威脅
例如在烏克蘭和南中國海發生的事件
我們必須堅持尊重法律的原則
尊重國家邊境尊重文化
這樣才能和平交往
就像聯合國的創建者所希望的那樣
大家必需合作
共同面對那些威脅我們的人
那些製造混亂動盪恐怖的人
當今世界面臨的問題是
一些小政權違背了聯合國的每一個基本原則
既不尊重自己的國民也不尊重國家主權
如果正義的大多數不能對抗這幾個少數的邪惡政權
邪惡就會勝利
如果好人和其他國家袖手旁觀
只會讓破壞的力量積聚變得強大
美國總統川普：「沒有國家比墮落的朝鮮政權更無視其國民的福祉，平壤必須要為數百萬被餓死，無數受監禁，酷刑，殺戮和壓迫的朝鮮人負責。當無辜的美國大學生奧托．瓦姆比爾被營救回國，短短几天后便去世了，我們一起見證了平壤當局的殘酷暴行。」「沒有人比朝鮮的墮落政權更蔑視其他國家和為自己的人民的福祉。它負責數百萬朝鮮人的飢餓死亡。並為無監禁，酷刑，殺戮和壓迫無數。當一名無辜的美國大學生奧托．溫貝爾（Otto Warmbier）回到美國，只有幾天後才死亡，我們都看到了政權的致命虐待。」
美國總統川普：「我們看到當局毒殺其獨裁者兄長的時候，使用了被禁的神經毒劑」，我們知道他們在日本海灘綁架了當地一名13歲的花季少女，逼迫她作朝鮮間諜的日語教師，奴役她。如果這些還不夠扭曲，那麼現在朝鮮肆意追求發展核武和彈道飛彈，不計後果的威脅著整個世界。一些國家不但與這樣一個危及世界的政權做生意，而且還向它提供武裝，從經濟上支援它，令人憤慨。」
美國總統川普：「沒有一個國家願意看到這群罪犯以核武和飛彈保護自己」，美國有巨大的實力和耐心，但如果我們或是盟友受到威脅，我們別無選擇，只能徹底摧毀朝鮮。「火箭男金正恩」在執行自殺任務，以他本人及其政權作陪葬。美國已準備好，願意並有能力武力解決朝鮮，但我們不希望走到這一步。這是聯合國的宗旨，也是成立聯合國的目的，讓我們看看他們的表現。」「沒有一個國家有興趣看到這一群罪犯用自己的核武器和飛彈。美國有很大的實力和耐心，但如果不得不捍衛自己或盟友，我們別無選擇，只能完全摧毀朝鮮。火箭人正在為自己和他的政權自殺任務。美國已經準備好，願意和能力，但希望這不是必要的。這就是聯合國的一切。這就是聯合國的目標。讓我們看看他們怎麼做。」
美國總統川普：「現在是時候讓朝鮮認識到，半島去核化是其未來唯一的選擇」聯合國安理會最近一致通過了兩個針對朝鮮的嚴懲制裁決議，我要感謝中國，俄羅斯和安理會所有成員國，同意對朝鮮進行制裁。謝謝各位的參與，但我們還有很多事要做。現在是時候聯合起來，一同孤立金正恩政權，直到其停止敵對行為。」
我們不僅要在朝鮮問題上作出決策
很久之前世界各國就應該
針對另一個放肆的政權有所作為
他們公開宣揚屠殺
要置美國於死地
要毀滅以色列
消滅在座的許多國家和領導人
伊朗政府表面戴著民主的偽裝，背後是腐敗的獨裁政權。一個歷史文化悠久的富裕國家，變成了一個經濟枯竭的流氓國家，主要輸出暴力、血腥和動亂。實際上，伊朗領導者最長期的受害者是其人民。其資源沒有用來改善伊朗人民的生活，其石油的獲利卻用於資助真主黨和其他恐怖組織，殺戮無辜的穆斯林、攻擊其和平的阿拉伯和以色列鄰國。
理應屬於伊朗人民的財富也用於支持巴爾沙・阿薩德獨裁統治，推動葉門內戰，瓦解整個中東和平。我們不能讓一個窮凶極惡的政權繼續搞這些顛覆活動，同時還製造危險的飛彈。如果一個協議最終可能用來掩蓋核項目建設，那我們就不能遵守它。伊朗協議是美國所做出的一個最糟糕的單邊交易。坦率地說，該協議讓美國陷入困境，我想這還不是最糟的。相信我。
全世界都應該和我們一起，要求伊朗政府不再尋求毀滅。該政權應該釋放其非法拘押的所有美國和其他國家公民。首先，伊朗政府必須停止支持恐怖主義者，為其人民服務，並尊重其鄰國的主權。全世界都知道，伊朗的良民希望改變。除了美國強大的軍事力量，伊朗領導人最懼怕的就是伊朗人民。正因為這樣，該政權限制網際網路使用，拆除衛星接收器，開槍打手無寸鐵的抗議學生，監禁政治改革者。
壓迫人民的統治不會永遠存在，人民面臨選擇的一天即將到來。伊朗人民是要延續貧窮、流血、恐怖之路，還是回歸民族引以為自豪的根本，再次成為文明、文化和財富的中心，人民安居樂業？伊朗政權支持恐怖，而其很多鄰國近期都承諾打擊恐怖、停止其財源，兩者形成鮮明的對比。去年初，在沙特阿拉伯，我很榮幸向50多個阿拉伯和穆斯林國家領導人發表演說。我們同意，所有負責任的國家都必須共同合作，對抗恐怖分子和伊斯蘭極端主義。
我們將阻止極端伊斯蘭恐怖主義，因為我們不能允許其分裂國家，其實是分裂了全世界。我們決不能讓恐怖分子有避風港、中轉站、資金，以及對其卑鄙、邪惡理念有任何形式的支持。我們必須將其趕出我們的國家。應該曝光那些國家，看誰支持、資助那些殺戮無辜人民的恐怖組織，比如基地組織、真主黨、塔利班等等。
美國和我們的盟友正在共同努力，在中東打擊恐怖分子，他們是失敗者，阻止再度出現避風港，讓他們用來襲擊我們的人民。上個月，我宣布了戰勝阿富汗邪惡組織的新戰略。從現在起，我們的安全利益將遵照軍事行動的時間和範圍，而不是由政治家來任意確定基準點和時間表。我還徹底改變了對塔利班和其他恐怖組織的作戰規則。
在敘利亞和伊拉克，我們最後殲滅伊斯蘭國的戰鬥取得了很大勝利。實際上，過去八個月來，美國在打擊伊斯蘭國的戰鬥中取得的勝利，比過去很多很多年加在一起都多。我們尋求緩解敘利亞衝突，尋找政治解決途徑，以尊重敘利亞人民的意願。巴沙爾・阿薩德違法政權的行為，包括對其公民、甚至兒童使用化學武器，震驚了每一個正派人的良知。沒有一個社會是安全的，只要被禁止的化學武器還允許擴散。正因為這樣，美國才發射飛彈，打擊（敘利亞）空軍基地。
我們感謝聯合國機構的努力，向從伊斯蘭國組織收復的地區提供至關重要的人道主義援助。我們特別感謝約旦、土耳其和黎巴嫩，感謝他們發揮作用，接收逃離敘利亞衝突的難民。美國是富有同情心的國家，付出上百億美元支持這項工作。我們尋求安置難民的辦法，旨在幫助這些遭受摧殘的人們，讓他們最終重返家園，這也是重建的一部分。在美國安置一名難民的費用，可以在他們自己的地區援助十多位難民。
我們出於善心
給當地接納難民的國家經濟援助
支持G20最近的協議
儘量就近安置難民
這是安全負責人道的做法
數十年來
美國一直在處理西方的難民問題
我們知道長遠來講
不受控制的難民潮
對所在國和接收國都極其不公
對所在國來講
減輕了政治經濟改革的壓力
也使推動和實施改革的人才流失
對接收國來講
難民潮的巨大成本大部分由低收入人群承擔
而他們的想法常常被媒體和政府忽視
我看到聯合國在努力解決引起難民潮的問題
聯合國和非洲聯盟的維和部隊
對平息非洲衝突做出巨大貢獻
美國在人道援助方面依然會領導世界
包括防止和救助
南蘇丹索馬利亞奈及利亞北部和葉門的饑荒
我們也對改善世界各地的醫療
增加創業機會提供資助
例如「美國總統防治愛滋病緊急救助計畫」
「美國總統防治瘧疾行動計畫」
「全球衛生安全綱領」
「終止現代奴役基金」
「女性創業者資金計畫」等項目
我們要感謝聯合國秘書長
他認識到聯合國必須改革
才能有效運作
對抗威脅到主權安全和繁榮的因素
但是這個機構常常忽略了目標
而是陷入官僚程序
致使這個系統不能去實現目標
反而被一些國家劫持破壞這些目標
例如出現了極其尷尬的局面
令人髮指的破壞人權的國家
卻進入了聯合國人權理事會
美國是聯合國193個成員國之一
但是我們提供22%的預算
實際上我們提供的資金比任何人知道的都多
美國承擔了不公平的會費
但是如果聯合個能夠實現這些目標
尤其和平的目標
這些投資也值得了
世界一些主要的地方處於衝突中
有些情況非常糟糕
但是在座的各位有權力的人
在聯合國的旗幟下
是可以解決這些複雜的問題的
美國人民希望
聯合國很快能成為更可靠更有效的機構
在全世界倡導人的尊嚴和自由
我們認為哪個國家也不應該背負
不成比例的負擔無論在軍事上還是財政上
世界其他國家需要為自己所在地區的安全和繁榮
起到更大的作用
所以在西半球
美國反對腐敗的正在瓦解的古巴政權
我們最近宣布不會取消對古巴的制裁
除非古巴政府進行徹底的改革
我們對委內瑞拉的馬杜羅政權也進行了嚴厲制裁
這個曾經繁榮的國家被他們徹底搞垮了
馬杜羅的社會主義獨裁給這個國家的好人
帶來巨大的痛苦
這個腐敗的政府會掉了一個繁榮的國家
用的是一個失敗的意識形態
社會主義在世界各地帶來的都是貧窮和痛苦
更糟糕的是馬杜羅違背民意
從民選代表竊取權力
維護自己的災難性統治
委內瑞拉人民在挨餓他們的國家垮了
民主制度被毀出現了完全不能接受的局面
我們不能坐視不理
作為負責任的朋友和鄰居
我們都有一個目標幫助他們重獲自由
恢復國力重建民主
感謝在座的領導人譴責其政權
給委內瑞拉人民提供支援
美國已採取重要步驟向這個政權追責
如果該國政府堅持獨裁統治
我們準備採取進一步措施
我們和今天在場的許多拉美國家有很好的貿易關係
我們的經濟紐帶是基礎
讓所有的鄰國和人民實現和平與繁榮
我請求這裡的每個國家
為這場危機盡一份力
讓委內瑞拉全面恢復民主和政治自由
委內瑞拉的問題不是沒有搞好社會主義
恰恰是因為他們遵循社會主義那一套
從蘇聯到古巴到委內瑞拉，社會主義或共產主義所到之處，都伴隨著痛苦，毀壞和失敗。那些宣揚這些侮辱人類尊嚴信條的人只是增加那些生活在這殘酷制度下人民的痛苦。美國與那些在殘暴政權下生活的人們站在一起。我們尊重主權，也呼籲切實的行動。所有人都應享有一個關心他們的安全，利益和福祉的政府。在美國，我們尋求與所有友邦建立緊密的商業和貿易聯繫，但這種貿易關係必須是公平和互惠的。
長久以來，美國人民被告知，龐大的跨國貿易交易，不負責任的國際法庭和強大的全球官僚機構是促進繁榮發展的最佳途徑。但隨著這些承諾的落空，數以百萬的工作消失了，成千上萬的工廠關閉了。一部分人濫用權術，破壞規則，我們偉大的中產階級，曾經是美國繁榮的基石，他們被遺忘了，被遺棄了。但是現在他們不會被遺忘了，再也不會被遺棄了。
在美國與其他國家開展合作和商業活動的同時，我們正在重新履行對每個政府來說都是第一重要的義務，就是政府對其公民的義務。這種公民與政府的聯繫是美國強大的源泉，也是在坐各位所代表的每個負責任國家的強大根源。如果這個組織（聯合國）有希望成功解決我們所面臨的挑戰，要依靠每個獨立的成員國的強大實力，這是杜魯門總統在70多年前講過的。如果我們要擁抱未來的機遇，克服現在的危險，就需要一個個強大的，主權獨立的國家，一個個根植於歷史並關注自身發展的國家，一個個尋求盟友而不是需求征服的國家，最重要的是，這些國家擁有願意為自己的國家，為同胞，為人類共同的精神價值犧牲的男女公民。
在這慶祝聯合國成立的偉大時刻，我們永遠不要忘記那些對抗邪惡的英雄們，他們同時也為所熱愛的國家而戰。愛國主義讓波蘭人犧牲自己，拯救波蘭；讓法國人為爭取自由的法國而戰，讓英國人為英國而團結堅持。今天，如果我們不培育自己，不培養我們的心靈，我們的思想，不發展我們的國家，如果我們不為自己建立強大的家庭，安全的社區和健康的社會，沒人能為我們做這些。
這是每個人久遠的期望，也是每個神聖的靈魂最深切的渴望。所以讓這成為我們的使命，讓這成為我們向世界傳遞的信息。我們將一起戰鬥，一起犧牲，肩並肩的為和平，自由，公正，為我們的家庭，為全人類，為創造我們的全能的神而團結在一起。感謝大家，上帝保佑你，上帝保佑世界各國，上帝保佑美利堅合眾國。非常感謝大家。
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Mr. Secretary General, Mr. President, world leaders, and distinguished delegates, welcome to New York. It is a profound honor to stand here in my home city as a representative of the American people to address the people of the world. As millions of our citizens continue to suffer the effects of the devastating hurricanes that have struck our country, I want to begin by expressing my appreciation to every leader in this room who has offered assistance and aid. The American people are strong and resilient, and they will emerge from these hardships more determined than ever before.
Fortunately, the United States has done very well since Election Day last November8. The stock market is at an all-time high, a record. Unemployment is at its lowest level in16 years, and because of our regulatory and other reforms, we have more people working in the United States today than ever before. Companies are moving back, creating job growth, the likes of which our country has not seen in a very long time, and it has just been announced that we will be spending almost$700 billion on our military and defense. Our military will soon be the strongest it has ever been. For more than70 years, in times of war and peace, the leaders of nations, movements, and religions have stood before this assembly.
Like them, I intend to address some of the very serious threats before us today, but also the enormous potential waiting to be unleashed. We live in a time of extraordinary opportunity. Breakthroughs in science, technology, and medicine are curing illnesses and solving problems that prior generations thought impossible to solve. But each day also brings news of growing dangers that threaten everything we cherish and value. Terrorists and extremists have gathered strength and spread to every region of the planet. Rogue regimes represented in this body not only support terror but threaten other nations and their own people with the most destructive weapons known to humanity.
Authority and authoritarian powers seek to collapse the values, the systems, and alliances, that prevented conflict and tilted the word toward freedom since World War II. International criminal networks traffic drugs, weapons, people, force dislocation and mass migration, threaten our borders and new forms of aggression exploit technology to menace our citizens. To put it simply, we meet at a time of both immense promise and great peril. It is entirely up to us whether we lift the world to new heights or let it fall into a valley of disrepair. We have it in our power, should we so choose, to lift millions from poverty, to help our citizens realize their dreams, and to ensure that new generations of children are raised free from violence, hatred, and fear.
This institution was founded in the aftermath of two world wars, to help shape this better future. It was based on the vision that diverse nations could cooperate to protect their sovereignty, preserve their security, and promote their prosperity. It was in the same period exactly70 years ago that the United States developed the Marshall Plan to help restore Europe. Those these beautiful pillars, they are pillars of peace, sovereignty, security, and prosperity. The Marshall Plan was built on the noble idea that the whole world is safer when nations are strong, independent, and free. As president, Truman said in his message to Congress at that time, our support of European recovery is in full accord with our support of the United Nations.
The success of the United Nations depends upon the independent strength of its members. To overcome the perils of the present, and to achieve the promise of the future, we must begin with the wisdom of the past. Our success depends on a coalition of strong and independent nations that embrace their sovereignty, to promote security, prosperity, and peace, for themselves and for the world. We do not expect diverse countries to share the same cultures, traditions, or even systems of government, but we do expect all nations to uphold these two core sovereign duties, to respect the interests of their own people and the rights of every other sovereign nation.
This is the beautiful vision of this institution, and this is the foundation for cooperation and success. Strong sovereign nations let diverse countries with different values, different cultures, and different dreams not just coexist, but work side by side on the basis of mutual respect. Strong sovereign nations let their people take ownership of the future and control their own destiny. And strong sovereign nations allow individuals to flourish in the fullness of the life intended by God. In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch.
This week gives our country a special reason to take pride in that example. We are celebrating the230th anniversary of our beloved Constitution, the oldest constitution still in use in the world today. This timeless document has been the foundation of peace, prosperity, and freedom for the Americans and for countless millions around the globe whose own countries have found inspiration in its respect for human nature, human dignity, and the rule of law. The greatest in the United States Constitution is its first three beautiful words. They are"We the people." Generations of Americans have sacrificed to maintain the promise of those words, the promise of our country and of our great history.
In America, the people govern, the people rule, and the people are sovereign. I was elected not to take power, but to give power to the American people where it belongs. In foreign affairs, we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty. Our government's first duty is to its people, to our citizens, to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to preserve their rights, and to defend their values. As president of the United States, I will always put America first. Just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will always and should always put your countries first.
All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens, and the nation state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition. But making a better life for our people also requires us to with work together in close harmony and unity, to create a more safe and peaceful future for all people.
The United States will forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies. But we can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-sided deal where the United States gets nothing in return. As long as I hold this office, I will defend America's interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it's in everyone's interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous, and secure.
America does more than speak for the values expressed in the United Nations charter. Our citizens have paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom and the freedom of many nations represented in this great hall. America's devotion is measured on the battlefields where our young men and women have fought and sacrificed alongside of our allies. From the beaches of Europe to the deserts of the Middle East to the jungles of Asia, it is an eternal credit to the American character that even after we and our allies emerge victorious from the bloodiest war in history, we did not seek territorial expansion or attempt to oppose and impose our way of life on others. Instead, we helped build institutions such as this one to defend the sovereignty, security, and prosperity for all. For the diverse nations of the world, this is our hope.
We want harmony and friendship, not conflict and strife. We are guided by outcomes, not ideologies. We have a policy of principled realism, rooted in shared goal, interests, and values. That realism forces us to confront the question facing every leader and nation in this room, it is a question we cannot escape or avoid. We will slide down the path of complacency, numb to the challenges, threats, and even wars that we face, or do we have enough strength and pride to confront those dangers today so that our citizens can enjoy peace and prosperity tomorrow.
If we desire to lift up our citizens, if we aspire to the approval of history, then we must fulfill our sovereign duties to the people we faithfully represent. We must protect our nations, their interests and their futures. We must reject threats to sovereignty from the Ukraine to the South China Sea. We must uphold respect for law, respect for borders, and respect for culture, and the peaceful engagement these allow.
And just as the founders of this body intended, we must work together and confront together those who threatens us with chaos, turmoil, and terror. The score of our planet today is small regimes that violate every principle that the United Nations is based. They respect neither their own citizens nor the sovereign rights of their countries. If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph. When decent people and nations become bystanders to history, the forces of destruction only gather power and strength.
No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea. It is responsible for the starvation deaths of millions of North Koreans. And for the imprisonment, torture, killing, and oppression of countless more. We were all witness to the regime's deadly abuse when an innocent American college student, Otto Warmbier, was returned to America, only to die a few days later.
We saw it in the assassination of the dictator's brother, using banned nerve agents in an international airport. We know it kidnapped a sweet13-year-old Japanese girl from a beach in her own country, to enslave her as a language tutor for North Korea's spies. If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of human life. It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply, and financially support a country that imperils the world with nuclear conflict.
No nation on Earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles. The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That's what the United Nations is all about. That's what the United Nations is for. Let's see how they do.
It is time for North Korea to realize that the denuclearization is its only acceptable future. The United Nations Security Council recently held two unanimous15-0 votes adopting hard-hitting resolutions against North Korea, and I want to thank China and Russia for joining the vote to impose sanctions, along with all of the other members of the Security Council. Thank you to all involved. But we must do much more.
It is time for all nations to work together to isolate the Kim regime until it ceases its hostile behavior. We face this decision not only in North Korea; it is far past time for the nations of the world to confront another reckless regime, one that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing death to America, destruction to Israel, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.
The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy. It has turned a wealthy country, with a rich history and culture, into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. The longest-suffering victims of Iran's leaders are, in fact, its own people. Rather than use its resources to improve Iranian live, its oil profits go to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists that kill innocent Muslims and attack their peaceful Arab and Israeli neighbors.
This wealth, which rightly belongs to Iran's people, also goes to shore up Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, fuel Yemen's civil war, and undermine peace throughout the entire Middle East. We cannot let a murderous regime continue these destabilizing activities while building dangerous missiles, and we cannot abide by an agreement if it provides cover for the eventual construction of a nuclear program. The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don't think you've heard the last of it. Believe me.
It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran's government end its pursuit of death and destruction. It is time for the regime to free all Americans and citizens of other nations that they have unjustly detained. Above all, Iran's government must stop supporting terrorists, begin serving its own people, and respect the sovereign rights of its neighbors. The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran's people are what their leaders fear the most. This is what causes the regime to restrict internet access, tear down satellite dishes, shoot unarmed student protesters, and imprison political reformers.
Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the people will face a choice. Will they continue down the path of poverty, bloodshed, and terror, or will the Iranian people return to the nation's proud roots as a center of civilization, culture, and wealth, where their people can be happy and prosperous once again? The Iranian regime's support for terror is in stark contrast to the recent commitments of many of its neighbors to fight terrorism and halt its finance, and in Saudi Arabia early last year, I was greatly honored to address the leaders of more than50 Arab and Muslim nations. We agreed that all responsible nations must work together to confront terrorists and the Islamic extremism that inspires them.
We will stop radical islamic terrorism because we cannot allow it to tear up our nation and, indeed, to tear up the entire world. We must deny the terrorists safe haven, transit, funding, and any form of support for their vile and sinister ideology. We must drive them out of our nation. It is time to expose and hold responsible those countries whose support and fi— who support and finance terror groups like al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and others that slaughter innocent people.
The United States and our allies are working together throughout the Middle East to crush the loser terrorists and stop the reemergence of safe havens they use to launch attacks on all of our people. Last month I announced a new strategy for victory in the fight against this evil in Afghanistan. From now on, our security interests will dictate the length and scope of military operation, not arbitrary benchmarks and timetables set up by politicians. I have also totally changed the rules of engagement in our fight against the Taliban and other terrorist groups.
In Syria and Iraq, we have made big gains toward lasting defeat of ISIS. In fact, our country has achieved more against ISIS in the last eight months than it has in many, many years combined. We seek the deescalation of the Syrian conflict, and a political solution that honors the will of the Syrian people. The actions of the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad, including the use of chemical weapons against his own citizens, even innocent children, shock the conscience of every decent person. No society could be safe if banned chemical weapons are allowed to spread. That is why the United States carried out a missile strike on the airbase that launched the attack.
We appreciate the efforts of the United Nations agencies that are providing vital humanitarian assistance in areas liberated from ISIS, and we especially thank Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon for their role in hosting refugees from the Syrian conflict. The United States is a compassionate nation and has spent billions and billions of dollars in helping to support this effort. We seek an approach to refugee resettlement that is designed to help these horribly treated people and which enables their eventual return to their home countries to be part of the rebuilding process. For the cost of resettling one refugee in the United States, we can assist more than10 in their home region.
Out of the goodness of our hearts, we offer financial assistance to hosting countries in the region and we support recent agreements of the G20 nations that will seek to host refugees as close to their home countries as possible. This is the safe, responsible, and humanitarian approach. For decades the United States has dealt with migration challenges here in the Western Hemisphere.
We have learned that over the long term, uncontrolled migration is deeply unfair to both the sending and the receiving countries. For the sending countries, it reduces domestic pressure to pursue needed political and economic reform and drains them of the human capital necessary to motivate and implement those reforms. For the receiving countries, the substantial costs of uncontrolled migration are born overwhelmingly by low-income citizens whose concerns are often ignored by both media and government.
I want to salute the work of the United Nations in seeking to address the problems that cause people to flee from their home. The United Nations and African Union led peacekeeping missions to have invaluable contributions in stabilizing conflict in Africa. The United States continues to lead the world in humanitarian assistance, including famine prevention and relief, in South Sudan, Somalia, and northern Nigeria and Yemen.
We have invested in better health and opportunity all over the world through programs like PEPFAR, which funds AIDS relief, the President’s Malaria Initiative, the Global Health Security Agenda, the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, and the Women Entrepreneur's Finance Initiative, part of our commitment to empowering women all across the globe.
We also thank— we also thank the secretary general for recognizing that the United Nations must reform if it is to be an effective partner in confronting threats to sovereignty, security, and prosperity. Too often the focus of this organization has not been on results, but on bureaucracy and process. In some cases, states that seek to subvert this institution's noble end have hijacked the very systems that are supposed to advance them. For example, it is a massive source of embarrassment to the United Nations that some governments with egregious human rights records sit on the UN Human Rights Council.
The United States is one out of193 countries in the United Nations, and yet we pay22 percent of the entire budget and more. In fact, we pay far more than anybody realizes. The United States bears an unfair cost burden, but to be fair, if it could actually accomplish all of its stated goals, especially the goal of peace, this investment would easily be well worth it. Major portions of the world are in conflict, and some, in fact, are going to hell, but the powerful people in this room, under the guidance and auspices of the United Nations, can solve many of these vicious and complex problems. The American people hope that one day soon the United Nations can be a much more accountable and effective advocate for human dignity and freedom around the world.
In the meantime, we believe that no nation should have to bear a disproportionate share of the burden, militarily or financially. Nations of the world must take a greater role in promoting secure and prosperous societies in their own region. That is why in the Western Hemisphere the United States has stood against the corrupt, destabilizing regime in Cuba and embraced the enduring dream of the Cuban people to live in freedom.
My administration recently announced that we will not lift sanctions on the Cuban government until it makes fundamental reforms. We have also imposed tough calibrated sanctions on the socialist Maduro regime in Venezuela, which has brought a once thriving nation to the brink of total collapse. The socialist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro has inflicted terrible pain and suffering on the good people of that country.
This corrupt regime destroyed a prosperous nation— prosperous nation, by imposing a failed ideology that has produced poverty and misery everywhere it has been tried. To make matters worse, Maduro has defied his own people, stealing power from their elected representatives, to preserve his disastrous rule. The Venezuelan people are starving, and their country is collapsing. Their democratic institutions are being destroyed. The situation is completely unacceptable, and we cannot stand by and watch.
As a responsible neighbor and friend, we and all others have a goal— that goal is to help them regain their freedom, recover their country, and restore their democracy. I would like to thank leaders in this room for condemning the regime and providing vital support to the Venezuelan people. The United States has taken important steps to hold the regime accountable. We are prepared to take further action if the government of Venezuela persists on its path to impose authoritarian rule on the Venezuelan people.
We are fortunate to have incredibly strong and healthy trade relationships with many of the Latin American countries gathered here today. Our economic bond forms a critical foundation for advancing peace and prosperity for all of our people and all of our neighbors. I ask every country represented here today to be prepared to do more to address this very real crisis. We call for the full restoration of democracy and political freedoms in Venezuela. The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented.
From the Soviet Union to Cuba to Venezuela, wherever true socialism or communism has been adopted, it has delivered anguish and devastation and failure. Those who preach the tenets of these discredited ideologies only contribute to the continued suffering of the people who live under these cruel systems. America stands with every person living under a brutal regime. Our respect for sovereignty is also a call for action. All people deserve a government that cares for their safety, their interests, and their well-being, including their prosperity. In America, we seek stronger ties of business and trade with all nations of goodwill, but this trade must be fair and it must be reciprocal.
For too long the American people were told that mammoth, multinational trade deals, unaccountable international tribunals, and powerful global bureaucracies were the best way to promote their success. But as those promises flowed, millions of jobs vanished and thousands of factories disappeared. Others gamed the system and broke the rules, and our great class, once the bedrock of American prosperity, was forgotten and left behind, but they are forgotten no more and they will never be forgotten again.
While America will pursue cooperation and commerce with other nations, we are renewing our commitment to the first duty of every government, the duty of our citizens. This bond is the source of America's strength and that of every responsible nation represented here today. If this organization is to have any hope of successfully confronting the challenges before us, it will depend, as President Truman said some70 years ago, on the independent strength of its members.
If we are to embrace the opportunities of the future and overcome the present dangers together, there can be no substantive for strong, sovereign, and independent nations, nations that are rooted in the histories and invested in their destiny, nations that seek allies to befriend, not enemies to conquer, and most important of all, nations that are home to men and women who are willing to sacrifice for their countries, their fellow citizens, and for all that is best in the human spirit.
In remembering the great victory that led to this body's founding, we must never forget that those heroes who fought against evil, also fought for the nations that they love. Patriotism led the Poles to die to save Poland, the French to fight for a free France, and the Brits to stand strong for Britain. Today, if we do not invest ourselves, our hearts, our minds, and our nations, if we will not build strong families, safe communities, and healthy societies for ourselves, no one can do it for us.
This is the ancient wish of every people and the deepest yearning that lives inside every sacred soul. So let this be our mission, and let this be our message to the world. We will fight together, sacrifice together, and stand together for peace, for freedom, for justice, for family, for humanity, and for the almighty God who made us all. Thank you, God bless you, God bless the nations of the world, and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much.