Biden Calls for Global Commitment to Democracy in His Final UN Address

President Joe Biden, in his final address to the UN, made a passionate plea for the defense and promotion of democracy worldwide. Learn more about his message to global leaders.

Joe Biden delivered a solemn farewell address to the United Nations on Tuesday, utilizing his own choice to withdraw from the US presidential election as a cautionary tale regarding the threats posed by autocrats worldwide who refuse to relinquish power.

“My fellow leaders, let us always remember that some matters hold greater significance than the desire to maintain authority,” Biden stated, receiving applause during his concluding speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.

At 81 years of age, he urged global leaders to champion democracy amidst escalating turmoil and conflict, advocating for support for Ukraine and promoting peace in the Middle East.

With just six weeks remaining until an election that could potentially see the return of the isolationist and election-denying Donald Trump to the White House, Biden concluded his address by reflecting on lessons drawn from his own experiences.

“This summer, I faced a choice regarding whether to pursue a second term as president. It was a challenging decision. Serving as president has been the greatest honor of my life, and there remains much I wish to accomplish,” Biden remarked.

“While I cherish this role, my love for my country surpasses it. After 50 years of public service, I believe it is time for a new generation of leadership to guide our nation forward,” he continued.

“It is your people who are of utmost importance.”

– ‘Sweep of history’ –

Biden exited the presidential race in July following a troubling television debate against Trump, which raised concerns about his mental sharpness, and he has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee.

Countries globally are now anxiously observing the closely contested US election on November 5, amid apprehensions that a Trump victory could signify a resurgence of his hardline foreign policy.

Biden’s address aimed to enhance his own legacy while effectively urging other world leaders to safeguard it from potential reversal should the Republican candidate prevail.

He noted that he has witnessed a “remarkable sweep of history” throughout his five decades of public service and emphasized that, as the world grapples with a series of crises, “things can improve; we must never forget that.”

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Reflecting on the tumultuous withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, which marked the conclusion of two decades of involvement, President Biden expressed that he thinks of the American soldiers who lost their lives due to a bomb during the evacuation “every single day.”

The President, who frequently references his Irish heritage, revisited several recurring themes from his administration, citing the Irish poet W.B. Yeats’s assertion that the “center cannot hold,” while simultaneously affirming that it indeed can.

Biden elicited laughter from the gathered global leaders when he humorously remarked, “I know that I look like I’m only 40.”

Despite the grand themes presented, Biden’s address provided limited specifics on addressing the foreign policy challenges that either Trump or Harris will face.

– ‘Crisis and uncertainty’ –

He cautioned against the potential for a “full-scale war” in Lebanon, without offering strategies to prevent such an outcome, following Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah that resulted in at least 558 fatalities.

Biden’s aspiration for a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas appears increasingly distant.

On the matter of Ukraine, Biden adopted a more resolute stance, declaring that “Putin’s war has failed” and urging Kyiv’s allies to “not grow weary” in their support.

He is scheduled to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—who was present in the hall during Biden’s address—at the White House for discussions on Thursday.

Throughout his speech, Biden emphasized the significance of U.S. alliances, which he has sought to strengthen following the Trump administration, during which longstanding U.S. relationships were often questioned.

Biden participated in a joint event addressing the fentanyl trade with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and was set to deliver a speech on climate issues.

Biden’s address at the UN serves as part of a broader effort to “Trump-proof” his legacy in the final four months of his presidency.

He acknowledged that he “came to the presidency at another moment of crisis and uncertainty,” just days after pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the democratic process.

AFP