US President Joe Biden delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly, which was his last as an American leader. In his address, he focused on global challenges, such as the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa, and outlined the main threats facing the world community.
At the beginning of his speech, Biden noted that this speech is his last at the UN General Assembly as the president of the United States. He recalled his long political career, recalling the Cold War and the conflict in Vietnam, which at one time was the longest in the history of the United States. He emphasized that the United States and its allies were able to end the Cold War without the use of nuclear weapons, restoring peace, although it was not an easy task.
Biden emphasized that today America, together with its partners, demonstrates the ability to move forward, overcoming new challenges. He recalled his struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa, the condemnation of war crimes and the fight against terrorism, in particular with Al-Qaeda. In addition, Biden noted that the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and restore US leadership in the international arena was an important stage of his presidency.
Speaking about today’s challenges, Biden expressed his belief in the possibility of restoring peace in hot spots such as the Gaza Strip and Sudan, as well as confronting the climate crisis. He emphasized that democracy faces new threats, in particular the development of artificial intelligence, which brings both opportunities and risks. However, he assured that he has hope that the world is able to overcome these challenges and move forward.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Biden emphasized the importance of international solidarity in opposing Russian aggression. He emphasized that despite Russia’s attempt to destroy Ukraine and weaken NATO, the alliance became even stronger thanks to the addition of new members — Finland and Sweden. Biden noted that the world community must make a choice: support Ukraine or allow Russia to continue its aggression. He clearly stated that the US will not back down from its support for Ukraine, and assured that peace will be achieved in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, we rose up against it so that the institutions would uphold our values. More than 50 countries rose up against it, but the most important thing is that Ukrainians rose up. The good news is that Putin’s war has failed in achieving his main goal. Ukraine is still free”, he said.
In his speech, Biden also touched on the topic of relations with China, noting that the United States will continue to adhere to its principles in cooperation with Beijing. He emphasized the importance of deterring military competition and working together for stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East.
Speaking about the situation in the Gaza Strip, the US president called it catastrophic and called for a ceasefire to stop the suffering of the civilian population. He expressed support for the creation of a secure Palestinian state as a condition for achieving peace, and also emphasized the need to prevent Iran’s nuclear weapons potential.
Biden also drew attention to global issues such as hunger and climate change. He noted that millions of people in Sudan are facing hunger today and stressed the importance of international efforts to combat this crisis. Biden said the United States has invested more than $150 billion in sustainable environmental development and committed to reducing emissions by 2030 under the Paris Climate Agreement.
“The UN is providing humanitarian aid. And our partners are helping to fight world hunger. The world must make these regimes stop, stop tearing their countries apart and stop the war.”, – said the US President.
The US president paid special attention to the threats associated with artificial intelligence. He emphasized that new technologies are radically changing our lives, work, and even the way wars are waged. Biden emphasized the need to establish global standards for the use of AI to protect human values and rights.
“As it becomes more powerful, we must protect our values. We must benefit from it. It must not undermine the value and dignity of human life. We must make sure that AI helps ordinary people, not gives dictators more power to rule over people “. Perhaps this is the greatest challenge of our time”, – he suggested.
In conclusion, Biden emphasized the importance of political responsibility to his citizens. He mentioned that he decided not to run for a second term because he believes that the time has come for a new generation of political leaders.
“It was a difficult decision, the presidency was my life’s mission. And although I love my job, I love my country more. It’s time for a new generation to lead this country.”, he said.
