In his last speech to the United Nations in New York, Joe Biden praised the value of international cooperation. The world, meanwhile, had a glimpse of what might come after him.
When Joe Biden addresses the world for the last time in his life as US President, he combines his own political departure with a warning. It is aimed especially at the autocrats and dictators of this world. “Let us never forget that there are things that are more important than staying in power,” said Biden. It is the people who are most important. “Never forget that we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.” He himself made his decision because, while he loves his work in office, 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 concerned with more than just his own political legacy. In his 20 minutes, Joe Biden tried to make clear what had driven his policies in recent years. Without mentioning Donald Trump, his predecessor in office and possible successor, it became clear that this could be the last unifying speech by a US president to the world for a long time.
Joe Biden is stepping down at a time when the resilience of the global community is being tested in an unprecedented way. The US President painted a clear picture of the global challenges posed by wars, climate change and, in particular, major technological upheavals such as artificial intelligence. He therefore called on heads of state and government not to fall into despair. “I know that many look at the world today, see these difficulties and react with hopelessness. But I do not and I will not. As politicians, we cannot afford that luxury,” said Biden.
As he has often done in recent months, Biden emphasized what can be achieved in the world under a leading power like the United States, when it is governed 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,” said the US president. Putin had intended to destroy Ukraine. “But Ukraine is still free,” said Biden. He received intense applause for this.
But then he issued a warning that was also directed at his biggest political opponent, Donald Trump. “We must not get tired. We must not look away, and we will not abandon our support for Ukraine,” Biden said.
To contrast this statement, just look at a speech that Donald Trump gave the previous evening at the Economic Club of New York. There, the Republican presidential candidate indicated that he might abandon sanctions against Russia. “If we lose the dollar as a world currency, it would be like losing a war,” Trump said. That is why he is very forceful in imposing sanctions on countries that deserve them and then taking them back again. But countries like Russia, China or Iran cannot be lost. “That is why I want to impose as few sanctions as possible,” Trump said.
In front of the UN, Joe Biden addressed the global challenges posed by climate change or pandemics such as Covid-19 in particular, and here the US President once again appeared as powerless as he has been all 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,” said Biden.
