On Tuesday (September 24), President Joe Biden of the United States is set to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, showcasing his diplomatic policy legacy. With only four months left before the end of his term, the President still faces challenges posed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the conflicts in the Middle East, which may continue even after he leaves office.
According to a senior government official cited by Reuters, Biden will speak at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, where he will have the opportunity to discuss what he considers major achievements during his tenure.
Biden is expected to take to the green marble podium to urge world leaders to continue supporting Ukraine and to seek diplomatic solutions to the issues in the Middle East.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, mentioned to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to New York that Biden will outline his vision of how the world should come together to address these major issues and uphold fundamental principles such as the UN Charter.
“We support Ukraine in seeking a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in this war. The President has committed to providing the equipment needed to fortify Ukrainian positions,” Jean-Pierre stated.
Biden’s speech at the UN will be the centerpiece of his two-day trip to New York, which also includes a climate speech later on Tuesday and a meeting with Vietnamese National Security Advisor To Lam on Wednesday.
Biden has been eager to deepen relations with strategic nations in Southeast Asia and manufacturing hubs to counter Russia and China, and Vietnam is seeking strategic balance between the US and China through its “bamboo diplomacy”.
On Thursday (September 26), Biden is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Washington to receive a briefing on Ukraine’s new peace initiative. An American official indicated that the plan may be similar to previous ones, calling for more weapons and support for Ukraine.
Throughout his presidency, Biden has faced a range of diplomatic challenges, from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to last year’s Hamas attacks in southern Israel and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war. Confrontations with China and Iran have also consumed much of Biden’s time.
Under Biden’s leadership, the US has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine and called on NATO to show support for Kyiv. However, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains at a stalemate, with Russia still holding parts of eastern Ukraine seized early in the war.
Regardless of whether Biden’s successor is Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or former Republican President Trump, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Gaza clashes, Iran, and China will pose serious challenges for the next US President.
It is expected that Harris’s foreign policy will be very similar to Biden’s, although she has taken a tough stance on the casualties and humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s near-year-long ground assault on Gaza.
Trump opposes the US spending large sums to aid Ukraine and firmly supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s relationship with Biden has soured due to his refusal to make concessions for an Israel-Hamas peace deal.
Biden has been trying to negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas and facilitate an exchange of prisoners and hostages, but both sides remain deadlocked, with no breakthrough in sight.
Following the failed efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and serious confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Pentagon announced on Monday (September 23) that it will deploy a small number of troops to the Middle East out of caution.