Biden's final UN address: A call for peace amid global tensions
The fourth and final appearance of President Joe Biden before world leaders in New York has just ended. The President of the United States condemned the invasion of Ukraine, emphasised the importance of aiding the country and made light-hearted remarks about his age. The summit is taking place in the context of the presidential campaign and is being utilised within it. Donald Trump is already warning of another world war.
A farewell speech – this is how American media and commentators describe President Joe Biden's address at the United Nations summit in New York. They highlight that the current president has spent over 50 years on the international stage (starting as a senator, serving as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, later as vice president, and ultimately as president) and has taken this opportunity to summarise his achievements.
"I truly believe we’re at another inflection point in world history. The choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come," Biden said.
The current President of the United States spoke for the fourth and final time in this role. He devoted the largest part of his speech to the topic of security and world peace. He assured that the USA would not turn away from Eastern Europe – they would continue to help Ukraine and ensure the security of the Baltic countries.
"Putin's war has failed"
"The good news is Putin‘s war has failed at its core aim. He said out to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free," he argued. Supplies and aid are supposed to continue as long as Ukraine does not achieve "lasting peace." The key questions on this issue, namely how and when peace is supposed to be achieved, remain unanswered.
– He wanted to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free. He wanted to weaken NATO, but NATO is bigger, stronger, and more united than ever before, with two new members, namely Finland and Sweden. We cannot give up. The world is now facing another choice. Will we continue our support to help Ukraine win this war? – he asked. – Or will we walk away and allow the renewed aggression and destruction of the country? – he emphasised.
– We cannot look the other way, and we will not stop supporting Ukraine until it wins a just and lasting peace in accordance with the United Nations Charter – he said.
It must be said clearly here: the President of the USA did not present a vision of the end of any of the three ongoing conflicts – in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan (which Joe Biden mentioned multiple times during his speech).
The situation for the American president is challenging. When he moved into the White House in 2021, he stressed the necessity of "America's return" to the world mainstream after years of Donald Trump's presidency. Evidence of leadership was supposed to be solving, among other issues, world conflicts.
The results? There is no permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – and we are almost a year after the start of the fighting. The ongoing exchange of missiles on the Israeli-Lebanese border threatens the outbreak of another war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for three years.
– A diplomatic solution to the Gaza conflict is still possible. In reality, it remains the only way to lasting security – Biden said, openly criticising the violence of Israel against innocent Palestinians in the West Bank.
"Millions of people on the brink of starvation"
Biden added that Gaza "is not the only conflict that deserves outrage." He pointed out that Sudan is sinking into a civil war, "in which millions of people are on the brink of starvation, and hundreds of thousands are already experiencing it."
The President of the USA arrived in New York on Monday evening, and according to plans, he has meetings, including with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. On the occasion of the summit, he will also welcome world leaders present on the spot.
From the perspective of the USA, the September summit of the United Nations is taking place in the shadow of the presidential election campaign. For example, former President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a speech on taxes and industry during his visit to Georgia (one of the key states for the final election result) on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, current Vice President and candidate Kamala Harris plans to give a speech in Pennsylvania (another important state). Both Trump and Harris are focusing on economic issues, at the expense of, for example, the topic of international security.
In this case, the division is clear. If Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election in November, foreign policy will likely reflect Joe Biden's views and his previous actions.
If former President Donald Trump wins, it is obvious that the USA will return to his approach. Firstly, Trump attaches no importance to the role of international institutions (such as the UN), and secondly, he is convinced of his ability to resolve conflicts.
Trump reacts to Biden's speech
As soon as Joe Biden finished his speech to the UN General Assembly, Donald Trump's campaign team quickly issued a statement, warning of – in their opinion – the consequences of electing Kamala Harris.
"During Donald J. Trump's presidency, Iran was weak, ISIS was eliminated, Hamas was cut off, the Middle East region experienced historic peace, Russia was under control, and for 18 months no American soldier died in Afghanistan," the campaign team argues, as quoted by "The Guardian".
"World War III is certain under Kamala Harris's presidency. Meanwhile, President Trump will restore stability and peace" – they wrote further.
However, this short passage contains a falsehood already pointed out to Trump during the presidential debate in Pennsylvania.
The mentioned 18-month period in which no American soldiers died is not his doing. In reality, from March 2020 to August 2021 no US soldier died in combat, but half of that time falls during the presidency of Joe Biden.
And Joe Biden's theses were met with a counter.
Speaking at the assembly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (who spoke shortly after Biden) said that the United Nations and the values that the West defends are "dying" in Gaza, where the number of war victims is increasing day by day.
Erdogan: Not only children are dying in Gaza. The UN system is dying
"Not only children are dying in Gaza. The UN system is dying, the truth is dying, the values are dying, humanity's hopes for living in a fairer world are dying," he said. Erdogan called on world leaders to stop the plans of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue the war.
In the final part of his last speech to the UN General Assembly, Joe Biden referred to the decision to give up the fight for re-election. – Being President has been the greatest honour of my life – he said. – I love this job so much, but I love my country more – he added.
– Never forget that there are things more important than staying in power. It is your people who are the most important – he said to those gathered.
