Biden’s last UNGA speech during the war in the Middle East, Ukraine

President Joe Biden tried to reconcile his diplomatic record and presidential goals with the reality of wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan during his keynote speech Tuesday at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the last one. from its president.

“I know a lot of people look at the world today and see the difficulties and react with despair,” Biden said. “But maybe because of everything I’ve seen and everything I’ve been through over the decades, I have hope.”

The UNGA speech listed what the administration considers its most important achievements. These include supporting Ukraine’s defense against a 2022 Russian invasion, managing competition with China, upholding the UN Charter, clarifying the principles of global artificial intelligence and working to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Sudan.

With four months left in office, the speech was one of Biden’s few opportunities to lay out his foreign policy legacy in front of an audience of global leaders.

But given the geopolitical background to Biden’s speech, there was no time for victory laps.

Since Biden’s last UNGA speech in September 2023, wars in Ukraine and Sudan have persisted, while long-running tensions in the Middle East have erupted into deadly conflict.

Less than a year after Israel’s massive military operation in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, the Middle East is teetering on the brink of an all-out regional war.

Hostages taken by Hamas in the attack either died or remained in captivity; tens of thousands of people in Gaza have been killed or injured; and Palestinians suffer through a bleak and worsening humanitarian crisis.

However, the Biden administration regularly reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire and the hostage deal.

“Now is the time for the parties to meet these terms, to bring the hostages home, to secure security for Israel and Gaza free from the grip of Hamas, to reduce the suffering in Gaza, and to end this war,” Biden said on Tuesday.

“As we look forward, we must also address violence against innocent Palestinians in the West Bank,” he said.

Biden emphasized the need for a two-state solution, “where the world, Israel enjoys security and peace, full recognition and normal relations with all neighbors. And the Palestinians live in security, dignity and mood in their own country.”

Meanwhile, two and a half years into Ukraine’s war with Russia, some congressional Republicans are now openly opposed to continuing to supply US arms to Ukraine as it continues war after war, with a bleak path ahead.

“We could have stood up and just protested, but Vice President (Kamala) Harris and I know that this is an attack on this whole institution that we have to do,” Biden said. “Therefore, under my direction, America entered the breach, providing great security and economic and humanitarian assistance.”

Biden celebrated NATO expansion after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. But he told the chamber of foreign leaders that he “cannot stop.”

“You can’t be tired,” he said. “You cannot see far. We will not drop our support for Ukraine, until Ukraine wins a just and lasting peace.”

Biden also announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election in July, urging other leaders to impose their political ambitions on the people of their districts.

“As much as I love my job, I love my country more. I decided, after 50 years of public service, it’s time for a new generation of leaders to take my nation forward,” he said. “My leaders, don’t forget: Few things are more important than staying in power.”

Biden has scheduled high-level meetings to address geopolitical issues in closed-door settings.

On September 21, Biden hosted a summit in his hometown of Wilmington, Del. with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan.

On Monday, Biden met with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Washington. After a speech on Tuesday in New York, Biden will host a summit on ongoing efforts to combat the synthetic drug trade.

On Wednesday, he will meet with President Tô Lâm of Vietnam, the White House said. On Thursday, Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.

As Biden wraps up the presidency, foreign leaders also make time in their US travel schedules to meet with potential successors: Harris and former President Donald Trump, the two major party candidates in the November election.

Harris had a one-on-one meeting with the UAE President on Monday, and he will meet with Zelenskyy on Thursday in Washington.

Trump is also expected to meet with Zelenskyy, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Polish President Andrzej Duda, campaign sources told NBC News.