Want to watch the episode? Check out our video interview on our NEW YouTube channel!

While in New York for the 80th Session of the General Assembly, Estonia’s foreign minister sat down with The Delegates Lounge podcast at Estonia's Mission to the United Nations. He had recently addressed an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the threats of Russia's air incursions into NATO airspace.

Our conversation examines what deterrence looks like when Moscow tests the line. From NATO's Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry Operations to Article 4 consultations, we delve into the developments set in motion by the Kremlin's recent incursions into NATO airspace on the eve of the gathering of more than 150 heads of state and government for the General Assembly in New York.

The conversation goes beyond immediate threats to NATO countries to the problem of paying for the long war that Russia is waging on Ukraine. Estonia makes the case for using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, paired with tighter sanctions that strike at Russia’s war economy. The conversation also confronts the challenges facing the United Nations itself, as the organization struggles with a fiscal crisis and uncertainty over its sense of purpose.

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. It will help others who share your interests find their way to The Delegates Lounge podcast.

Speakers:

J. Alex Tarquinio (host). @alextarquinio of delegateslounge on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia (guest). @Tsahkna of @MFAestonia on X, formerly known as Twitter.

References:

Alex, our podcast host, wrote the United Nations General Assembly curtain raiser for Foreign Policy. Here's a free gift link to the article.

Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Toiu sat down with The Delegates Lounge podcast on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. From an official Romanian office overlooking the East River, she spoke candidly about Eastern European security and the calculations that went into Romania's decision making when a Russian drone recently transited their territorial airspace for around 50 minutes.

The UN General Assembly has now officially begun its 80th session. The high-level week began with a conference on recognizing Palestine, with several countries doing so for the first time. Romania, however, was among the first European countries to do so. The minister was clear on two points: Hostage release should be the first principle; and Hamas has no political future. At the same time, she said, the humanitarian emergency demands action and a horizon toward a two‑state solution.

Finally, we discussed the malaise at the United Nations, from a fiscal crisis to the search for the next secretary-general. She makes a serious case for an Eastern European secretary‑general after eight decades without one.

If you value strategic clarity over sound bites, press play. Then subscribe, share with a friend who follows world affairs, and leave a review to help others find their way to The Delegates Lounge.

Speakers:

J. Alex Tarquinio (host) is a resident correspondent at the United Nations in New York and co-founder of The Delegates Lounge podcast. @alextarquinio of @delegateslounge on X and @thedelegateslounge on Instagram.

Oana Toiu (guest) is the foreign minister of Romania. @oana_toiu of @MAERomania on X and @oana_toiu of @mfaromania on Instagram.

References:

Our podcast host, J. Alex Tarquinio, covered the United Nations high-level week for Foreign Policy. Here's a gift link to the coverage.

Want to watch the episode? Check out our video interview on our NEW YouTube channel!

Drama unfolds at the United Nations this week, as the 80th session of the UN General Assembly gets underway with leaders from more than 150 countries gathering in New York. At The Delegates Lounge podcast, we're beginning our coverage of what is known as either the "high-level week" of the General Assembly, or, more simply, "UNGA."

We held our first conversation with the former U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood, who served during the Biden Administration, as he shares his unfiltered perspective on a radically changed landscape. Recorded on Sunday, Sept. 21 as we walked about the United Nations headquarters in New York while security and television crews were scurrying all around us to set up for the big week ahead. Our conversation reveals how the organization faces existential challenges unlike any since World War II.

The contrast couldn't be more striking – last year's ambitious Pact for the Future versus this year's austere UN80 reform process. With the Trump administration returning to power and withholding critical funding, the UN now confronts a severe liquidity crisis forcing Secretary-General António Guterres to implement painful reductions of about one-fifth of staff. Wood expresses grave concern about cuts to conflict resolution capabilities and humanitarian operations at a time when global needs have never been greater.

"The UN is at a major point of inflection," Wood warns, as we explore how budget constraints will reshape multilateralism itself. The conversation delves into pressing geopolitical flashpoints – from Russia's designs beyond Ukraine to the Palestinian statehood conference set to take place at the General Assembly the next day. With 48 hostages still held by Hamas and Israeli operations intensifying, Wood offers candid insights on diplomatic missteps and potential pathways forward.

Looking ahead, the selection of the next secretary-general emerges at a pivotal moment. Wood articulates the need for a visionary leader who can navigate reforms while preserving the organization's core mission – someone who fosters "hope, not division" during these tumultuous times. Despite the sobering assessment, Wood maintains that the UN remains "a big hope for billions around the world" if it can adapt to new realities.

Join us for this essential conversation that goes beyond headlines to explore what's at stake for multilateralism. Subscribe now and never miss an episode as we bring you insights from the heart of international diplomacy.

Speakers:

J. Alex Tarquinio (host) is a resident correspondent at the United Nations in New York and co-founder of The Delegates Lounge podcast. @alextarquinio of @delegateslounge on X and @thedelegateslounge on Instagram.

Amb. Robert Wood (guest) was the U.S. Deputy Permanent Representantive to the United Nations during the Biden Administration. @WoodRoberta5 on X.

References:

Our podcast host, J. Alex Tarquinio, wrote the curtain-raiser for the United Nations high-level week for Foreign Policy. Here's a gift link to the article.