Obama Talks Nukes at UN, Then Heads to Pittsburgh

Leaders of world's top 20 economies gather in Steel City

President Obama continued an international diplomatic offensive today, first presiding over a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on how to “rid the world” of nuclear weapons then heading to Pittsburgh to kick-start an economic schmooze-fest with leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies.

At the U.N., Obama became the first U.S. president to chair a meeting of the global body’s 15-member Security Council. The Council passed a resolution calling for renewed commitments on nuclear disarmament and “reducing the risk of nuclear terrorism.”

The draft resolution was based on a “world without nuclear weapons” vision Obama outlined during an April speech in Prague, according to the AP. That speech called for reducing U.S. and Russian stockpiles of nuclear weapon, a ban on all nuclear tests, and strong backing for the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, among other globally-coordinated actions.

Later this evening, Obama and First Lady Michelle will play host to guests attending a two-day G-20 summit in Pittsburgh at a “working dinner.” World leaders will also meet informally at other receptions ahead of tomorrow’s group sessions, the AP reported.

U.S. officials said they did not expect the president to hatch any major treaties from the Pittsburgh summit. Instead, Obama would tell the world not to rely on American debt and spending and Chinese exports to fuel global economic growth. 

Get more: The Associated Press
 

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