Pahor stressed the importance of multilateralism in his speech as one of several speakers to do so. US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, made the case for sovereignty of nations and rejected globalism.
"The US is a large country with a strong army and huge influence in international politics and commerce. Slovenia is not. Multilateralism is what protects us, provides peace and an opportunity for us as a small country to develop our potential," Pahor told Slovenian journalists.
He said Slovenia advocated cooperation. "America can afford to [go it alone], Slovenia not so much," he said.
"If we can guarantee to this generation and future generations that they will develop their talents in international peace and security, I think it is valuable to advocate a more effective international order."
But Pahor also stressed that he did not reject sovereignty per se given that almost thirty years ago Slovenians fought for their own country.
Trump bragged about his administration's achievements in his speech, which elicited audible laughter from the audience at the UN. Pahor thinks the reaction was "honest," but so was Trump's response.
"I think it is important for Slovenia to understand it is dealing with a global superpower that is our ally notwithstanding differences in views on the Paris climate treaty and the Iran nuclear agreement," he said.
"Let me be very clear: Let us not wish that American policy fails. It is different than what we had been used to in recent decades, for example with regard to the EU, NATO and global issues, but this is how the voters decided and we have to respect that," he said.
Pahor also agrees that international institutions need to be modernised and their efficiency improved, but institutions such as the EU are very important for Slovenia.
"If things go against our interests, we will make do, but this will come at a price that I would not like to pay, and I don't think anyone does. We'd like to resolve problems in a peaceful manner," he said.
Pahor also mentioned a reception that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted for world leaders on Monday evening, saying he talked to Melania in Slovenian "in a friendly atmosphere".
"I have to say it is very pleasant that the US First Lady is Slovenian. I don't know whether she wanted to irk her husband a little bit, but she talked Slovenian to me and he spoke English; at one point I did not know whom to oblige. I tried to oblige both."
Pahor is travelling to Washington, DC on Friday for a reception marking the 20th anniversary of the Slovenian-run demining fund ITF, which he mentioned to the Trumps.
"I told them that we would love to get some attention from the top of US politics, which is why the event is in Washington... I have to say they both responded kindly, but not to the extent I would have any illusions now about high-ranking attendance at the reception," he said.
