JOSEPH R. BIDEN, President of the United States, noted that he speaks to the General Assembly for the fourth and last time as President of his country.  Recalling historical events, such as the cold war, he observed:  “Even from the horrors of war, there’s a way forward. Things can get better.”  For instance, his country was at war with Viet Nam, but they are now “partners and friends”.  He came to the presidency in another moment of crisis and uncertainty.  Outlining several of his achievements, among them a decision to end the war in Afghanistan, he said he was the fourth President facing that difficult task but did not leave it to the fifth.  Despite the difficulties in the world today, he refused to despair as a leader.  Quoting lines from Irish poet William Butler Yeats — “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” — he said that he sees “a critical distinction” between 1919 and 2024.  “In our time, the centre has held.  Leaders and people from every region across the political sector have stood together and turned the page.”

With the world again at an inflection point, he said:  “The choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come.”  When the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, the United States could have stood by to merely protest.  But he and Vice-President Kamala Harris understood that “that was an assault on everything this institution was supposed to stand for”. Therefore, his Administration stepped into the breach, providing massive security and economic and humanitarian assistance, and “our NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] allies and partners and 50-plus nations stood up as well”, he said, urging “the people of this Chamber” to rally behind them.  “The good news is [Russian Federation Vladimir V.] Putin’s war has failed” and “NATO is bigger, stronger, more united than ever before”, with two new members, Finland and Sweden.  But “we cannot grow weary […] and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine”.

He said his country will “responsibly manage” its competition with China so it “does not veer into conflict”, noting that the two sides recently resumed cooperation to stop the flow of deadly synthetic narcotics.  However, Washington, D.C., is pushing back against Beijing in economic competition and military coercion of other nations in the South China Sea while maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and protecting the most advanced technologies.  Turning to the Middle East, he said the United States has been working alongside Qatar and Egypt on a ceasefire and hostage deal, endorsed by the Security Council. “Now is the time for the parties to finalize its terms, bring the hostages home and secure security for Israel and Gaza,” he said.  Citing the prospect of “a wider war”, including along the Israel-Lebanon border, he said “a full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest” and “a diplomatic solution is still possible”.  He then advocated for a two-State solution, with Israelis enjoying peace and security and Palestinians living in security, dignity and self-determination in “a State of their own”. He also stressed that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

On climate change, he said that “we’ve taken the most ambitious climate action in history”, noting that the United States moved to rejoin the Paris Agreement on day one of his tenure.  The country is on track to cut emissions in half by 2030 and on track to quadruple climate financing to developing nations with $11 billion thus far in 2024, he said, also noting that it — together with the Group of Seven (G7) and other partners — has embarked on an ambitious financing initiative to support developing countries in clean energy transition and digital transformation.  Turning to Security Council reform, he said that the UN needs to adapt and bring new voices and perspectives, expressing support for expanding the organ’s membership.  It must “go back to the job of making peace” and “of brokering deals to end wars and suffering”.  In closing, he said that he made the preservation of democracy a central cause of his presidency.  Recalling a decision not to seek a second term as President, he said it was time for the new generation of leadership to take his nation forward.  “Let us never forget, some things are more important than power,” he said, declaring:  “Never forget we are here to serve the people, not the other way around […] There’s nothing that’s beyond our capacity if we work together.  Let’s work together.”