However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu showed defiance to US pressure.

"We will not be intimidated. You can be strong, but that does't make you right!" Cavusoglu told the emergency special session in clear reference to US threats.

"Before this meeting, a UN member state threatened all the other members. We were all asked to vote 'no' or face consequences. Some were even threatened with development aid cut," said Cavusoglu.

"Such an attitude is unacceptable. This is bullying and this chamber will not bow to that. It is unethical to think that the worth and dignity of member states are for sale," said the foreign minister.

Thursday's General Assembly emergency session was called after the United States vetoed a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the Security Council on Monday. All other 14 members of the council voted in favor.

The Security Council vote was prompted by Trump's Dec. 6 announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

Under a 1950 resolution, a General Assembly emergency special session can be called for all UN member states to consider a matter "with a view to making appropriate recommendations" for collective measures in case the Security Council fails to act.

Thursday's emergency special session was only the 10th of its kind in UN history. The last such meeting was held in 2009.