United States (US) President Joe Biden addressed the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday.
In his speech at the UNGA, his first since taking office in January this year, Biden expressed his gratitude to the UN and his fellow delegates for participating in this “noble mission.”
He began by acknowledging the ongoing devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that the global community has been tackling for the past two years. “We’re mourning more than 4.5 million people—people of every nation from every background,” he said. Biden stressed the urgency and significance of collaborative efforts to combat the virus and other challenges such as the “ravaging” climate change.
The American President posed four questions to his fellow delegates that he believes are crucial in determining the future of the global community:
- Will we work together to save lives, defeat COVID-19 everywhere and take the necessary steps to prepare ourselves for the next pandemic? Or will we fail to harness the tools at our disposal as the more virulent and dangerous variants take hold?
- Will we meet the threat of a challenging climate we’re all feeling already ravaging every part of our world with extreme weather? Or will we suffer the merciless march of ever-worsening droughts and floods, more intense fires and hurricanes, longer heatwaves, and rising seas?
- Will we affirm and uphold the human dignity and human rights under which nations in common cause, more than seven decades ago, formed this institution?
- Will we apply and strengthen the core tenets of the international system, including the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as we seek to shape the emergence of new technologies and deter new threats? Or will we allow those universal principles to be trampled and twisted in the pursuit of naked political power?
Consequently, Biden said the US, under his leadership, is prepared to join hands with its partners and allies in materialising an affirmative answer to the questions the world is facing. “We stand at an inflexion point in history,” he said, adding that his government intends to withdraw from the “wars of the past” and focus on a more sustainable, prosperous, and peaceful future.
Next, he talked about the crisis in Afghanistan vis-a-vis the potential terrorism threats. “As we close this period of relentless war [in Afghanistan], we’re opening a new era of relentless diplomacy; of using the power of our development aid to invest in new ways of lifting people around the world; of renewing and defending democracy,” he said.
The US completed the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan last month after the Taliban captured Kabul, ending its 20-year-long war in the country.
“Make no mistake: The United States will continue to defend ourselves, our allies and our interests against attack, including terrorist threats, as we prepare to use force if any is necessary, but to defend our vital national interests,” Biden said.
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Circling back to his point on working together towards a shared future, he said, “Over the last eight months, I have prioritised rebuilding our alliances, revitalising our partnerships and recognising they’re essential and central to America’s enduring security and prosperity.” Biden highlighted that his administration had reaffirmed its alliances with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the African Union, and involvement in the Quad Partnership with Australia, India, and Japan.
Speaking on climate change, Biden noted the US’ re-engagement with the Paris Climate Agreement from which his predecessor Donald Trump withdrew. “In April, I announced the United States’ ambitious new goal under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the United States by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, as we work toward achieving a clean-energy economy with net-zero emissions by 2050. And my administration is working closely with our Congress to make critical investments in green infrastructure and electric vehicles that will help us lock in progress at home toward our climate goals,” he said.
Furthermore, Biden voiced his support to the UN in fighting climate change and adherence to the Secretary-General’s “code-red-for-humanity” warning. Extending assistance for the UN goal of raising $100 billion towards climate action in developing nations, Biden said the US is the leader of “public climate action.”
He also highlighted the US’ engagement and contribution in evolving technology and long-term economic growth. Saying that the evolution in technology can either empower the masses or marginalise minorities, Biden claimed the US only intends to fulfil the former commitment. “We’ll work together with our democratic partners to ensure that new advances in areas from biotechnology to quantum computing, 5G, artificial intelligence and more are used to lift people, solve problems and advance human freedom. Not to suppress dissent or target minority communities,” he said.
Moreover, Biden stressed the US would retaliate to attacks against its sovereignty, occupation of territory by force, economic coercion, threats of nuclear proliferation, technological exploitation or disinformation but is more than willing to arrive at joint resolutions instead of initiating conflict. “We are not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs,” he said, subtly referring to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s warning of a “new cold war” between the US and China on Tuesday.
Additionally, Biden reiterated the US objection towards Iran’s nuclear mobility. “The United States remains committed to preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. We are working with the P5+1 to engage Iran diplomatically and seek a return to the JCPOA. We’re prepared to return to full compliance if Iran does the same,” he said.
Keeping all of these concerns in mind, Biden highlighted three key future objectives that America is invested in:
- Saving lives now
- Vaccinating the world
- Building back better
He consistently emphasised the importance of seeking a shared future and extended his support for the solemn aim of the UN to champion democratic values.
Concluding his address, Biden said, “None of this is inevitable; it’s a choice, and I can tell you where America stands–we will choose to build a better future. We–you and I–we have the will and capacity to make it better.”