NEW YORK. President Joe Biden is set to deliver his final address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, marking a significant moment in his decades-long political career. This speech will likely be one of his last appearances on the global stage as President, emphasizing themes central to his administration’s foreign policy.
The 79th session of UNGA is bringing together leaders from around the world in New York. According to a senior administration official, Biden’s speech will focus on rallying international support for Ukraine, managing global competition, and reinforcing the importance of upholding the U.N. Charter.
“He came into office four years ago with a vision of America returning to the world stage, fostering collaboration to address major global challenges,” the official stated. The address will provide an opportunity for Biden to reflect on the foreign policy achievements of his presidency.
Biden’s week is packed with international engagements, including meetings with Indo-Pacific leaders—Japan, Australia, and India—at his Wilmington, Delaware, residence over the weekend. He will also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Thursday.
The Middle East crisis is expected to be a major topic of discussion. On Monday, missiles struck southern Lebanon, killing nearly 500 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The attacks were attributed to Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah weapons concealed in civilian areas. The situation has been described as “delicate and dangerous” by a senior administration official.
Biden has indicated that a ceasefire and hostage negotiation agreement might be imminent. However, nearly a year after the Hamas attack on Israel, a resolution remains elusive. Earlier this month, Biden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to secure a deal. In a recent development, Hamas executed six hostages, including an American citizen.
At last year’s UNGA, Biden’s focus was on Russia’s war in Ukraine, underscoring the need to protect democracy. Following the more isolationist policies of former President Donald Trump, Biden has stressed the importance of strong alliances.
“To deliver for our own people, we must also engage deeply with the rest of the world,” Biden emphasized in his previous UNGA speech. “Our security, our prosperity, and our very freedoms are interconnected. Therefore, we must work together more than ever before.”
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
