By President Joe Biden attempted to square the diplomatic record and goals of his presidency with the grim reality of wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan during a major address Tuesday at the annual gathering of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the final one of his presidency.
“I know many look at the world today and see difficulties and react with despair,” Biden said. “But maybe because all I’ve seen and all we have done together over the decades, I have hope.”
His speech touched on what the administration views as its most significant achievements. These include supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s 2022 invasion, managing competition with China, upholding the U.N. Charter, outlining global artificial intelligence principles, and working to address humanitarian crises in Gaza and Sudan.
With four months left in office, the speech was one of Biden’s few remaining opportunities to frame his foreign policy legacy in front of an audience of global leaders.
But given the geopolitical backdrop for Biden’s speech, there was little time for victory laps.
Since Biden’s last General Assembly address in September 2023, ongoing wars in Ukraine and Sudan have persisted, while long-simmering tensions in the Middle East have erupted into deadly conflicts.
Less than a year into Israel’s massive military operation in Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, the Middle East is teetering on the brink of an all-out regional war.
Hostages taken by Hamas in the attack are either dead or remain in captivity; tens of thousands of people in Gaza have been killed or wounded; and Palestinians are suffering through a grim and worsening humanitarian crisis.
Still, the Biden administration regularly emphasizes its commitment to a cease-fire and hostage deal.
“Now is the time for the parties to finalize its terms, bring the hostages home, to secure security for Israel and Gaza free from Hamas’ grip, ease the suffering in Gaza, and end this war,” Biden said Tuesday.
“As we look ahead, we should also address the rise in violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank,” he said.
Biden stressed the need for a two-state solution, “where the world, Israel enjoys security and peace, full recognition and normalized relations with all its neighbors. And Palestinians live in security, dignity and self-determination in a state of their own.”
Meanwhile, 2½ years into Ukraine’s war with Russia, some congressional Republicans now openly oppose continuing to provide U.S. arms to Ukraine as it holds on through battle after battle, with a murky path forward.
“We could have stood by and merely protested, but Vice President [Kamala] Harris and I understood that that was an assault on everything this institution was supposed to stand for,” Biden said. “And so, with my direction America stepped into the breach, providing massive security and economic and humanitarian assistance.”
Biden celebrated the expansion of the NATO in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. But he told the room of foreign leaders that they “cannot let up.”
“You cannot grow weary,” he said. “You cannot look away. We will not let up on our support for Ukraine, not until Ukraine wins a just and durable peace.”
Biden also addressed his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential election in July, calling on other leaders to put their countries’ people over their own political ambitions.
“As much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided, after 50 years of public service, it’s time for a new generation of leadership to take my nation forward,” he said. “My fellow leaders, let us never forget: Some things are more important than staying in power.”
Biden has a packed schedule of high-level meetings to work through the onslaught of geopolitical problems in closed-door settings.
On Sept. 21, Biden hosted a summit in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan.
On Monday, Biden met with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Washington. Following his speech on Tuesday in New York, Biden will host a summit on the ongoing effort to fight the trafficking of synthetic drugs.
On Wednesday, he will meet with President Tô Lâm of Vietnam, the White House said. On Thursday, Biden will host Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.
As Biden wraps up his presidency, foreign leaders are also making time in their U.S. itineraries to meet with his potential successors: Harris and former President Donald Trump, the two major party nominees in November’s election.
Harris had her own sit-down with the UAE president on Monday, and she will meet with Zelenskyy on Thursday in Washington.
Trump is also expected to meet with Zelenskyy, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Andrzej Duda of Poland, sources from his campaign told NBC News.
