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Please note that this article is intended to provide factual coverage of events and is NOT intended to express political opinion. Any and all opinions that may be implied do not represent the official stances of the Poudre Press, Poudre School District, or Poudre High School.
On September 19th, President Biden addressed the 78th session of the United Nations (UN). The President who is currently running for reelection stressed his belief that international cooperation is a necessity for the future, with an emphasis on previous UN achievements “we saved tens of millions of lives that would have otherwise been lost to…measles, malaria, and tuberculosis.” Biden also called upon the expansion of the UN Security Council to include developing nations in Africa and Latin America. But he also expressed his disapproval of the veto power available to the members and advocated for countries to use it sparingly. This appears to be a direct rebuking of Russia's extensive use of the veto during the ongoing Ukraine war.
In his address he cited accomplishments the United States has made in recent years internationally. Such as gathering support for the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection from “21 nations…in the Western hemisphere”. He also mentioned that almost 100 countries have joined forces to counter fentanyl and “reduce the human cost of this affliction, and it is real”. The President also declared his intentions to “strengthen democratic institutions…and reject political violence”, going on to condemn recent coups in the African nations of Niger and Gabon. Biden urged investments in developing countries to “deliver consequential results” and praised the Lobito Corridor, a railway project spanning several African nations.
The President also sought to calm tensions with China stating that “we seek to responsibly manage the competition between our countries so it does not tip into conflict”. But he also snubbed China’s “aggression and intimidation” across the globe. He went on to stress his goal of addressing the “existential threat” known as climate change. He urged the world to “reduce our dependence on fossil fuels” citing the recent flooding in Libya as an example of climate change, the flooding has taken thousands of lives. Biden celebrated the Inflation Reduction Act which he signed in 2022, that law was according to him “the largest investment ever…to combat the climate crisis”. While also praising the United States role in the world “the United States will also continue to be the largest…donor of humanitarian assistance.
Nearing the end of his discourse, Biden spoke on the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. The President slammed Russia's withdrawal of arms control agreements such as New START as “irresponsible” and “making the entire world less safe”. He also pinned the war and its toll squarely on Russia “Russia alone stands in the way of peace…Russia's price for peace is Ukraine’s children. Biden also made the case for a prolongation of Western support for Ukraine “If we abandon the core principles…(and) appease an aggressor, can any member state in this body feel confident that they are protected? If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? I’d respectfully suggest the answer is no”.
The President concluded with his support of the rights of oppressed people around the world “we cannot turn away from abuses, whether in Xinjiang, Darfur, or Tehran. We have to continue working to ensure women and girls enjoy equal rights”. Biden also declared support for indigenous and LGBTQ+ groups. Whether the President’s address moved anyone or increased his support at home is up to you.
Please note that this article is intended to provide factual coverage of events and is NOT intended to express political opinion. Any and all opinions that may be implied do not represent the official stances of the Poudre Press, Poudre School District, or Poudre High School.
Brody is a senior at Poudre High School working at the Poudre Press for the first time. Some of Brody's interests include government, history, and world events. He runs a column called 2024 Today which delves into relevant news around the upcoming 2024 election. You can find his blog here.
Sources:
The United States Government. (2023, September 19). Remarks by president Biden before the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/09/19/remarks-by-president-biden-before-the-78th-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-new-york-ny/