2024-09-27 02:11:22
In his final speech to the United Nations in New York, Joe Biden invokes the value of international cooperation. Meanwhile, the world can guess what could come after him.
As Joe Biden speaks to the world for the last time in his life as US President, he combines his own political demise with a warning. It applies especially to the autocrats and dictators of this world. “Let us never forget that there are things that are more important than staying in power,” Biden said. It’s the people who are most important. “Never forget that we are here to serve the people and not the other way around.” He made his decision himself because he loves his work in office, but he loves his country even more.
In his fourth and final speech at the general debate before the United Nations General Assembly, the outgoing US president was about more than his own political legacy. In his 20 minutes, Joe Biden tried to make it clear what has driven his politics in recent years. Without mentioning Donald Trump, his predecessor in office and possible successor, it became clear: this could have been the last unifying speech by a US president to the world for a long time.
Joe Biden is leaving office at a time when the resilience of the global community is being tested in unprecedented ways. The US President drew a clear picture of the global challenges posed by wars, climate change and, in particular, major technological disruptions such as artificial intelligence. He therefore called on the heads of state and government not to fall into despair. “I know that many look at today’s world, see these difficulties and react with hopelessness. But I don’t do that, and I won’t do that in the future. As politicians, we don’t have that luxury,” Biden appealed.
As has often been the case in recent months, the president emphasized what could be achieved in the world under a leading power, the USA, if it was ruled by a president like him. He made this clear using the example of the defense of Ukraine, Biden’s greatest historical legacy in terms of foreign and security policy: “The good news is that Putin’s war has failed across the board.” He intended to destroy Ukraine. “But Ukraine is still free,” said Biden. He received strong applause for this.
But then he issued a warning that was also aimed at his biggest political opponent, Donald Trump. “We must not grow tired. We must not look away and we will not abandon our support for Ukraine,” Biden said.
As a contrast to this statement, just look at a speech that Donald Trump gave the evening before at the Economic Club of New York. There, the promising Republican presidential candidate indicated that he might abandon sanctions against Russia. “If we lose the dollar as the world currency, it would be like losing a war,” Trump said. That’s why he imposes sanctions very forcefully on countries that deserve them and then withdraws them again. But countries like Russia, China or Iran should not be lost. “That’s why I want to impose as few sanctions as possible,” said Trump.
At the UN, Joe Biden particularly addressed the escalating war in the Middle East in view of the global challenges posed by climate change or pandemics such as Covid-19. And here the US President once again seemed as powerless as he had all of last year. “An all-out war is in no one’s interest. Even in this escalated situation, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security,” Biden said.