Biden farewell UN speech/ Biden’s last UN appearance/ Biden UN General Assembly speech/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ UNITED NATIONS/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Joe Biden delivers his final speech at the UN General Assembly, addressing rising tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Biden emphasizes the need to resolve the Israel-Hezbollah conflict while maintaining strong Western support for Ukraine. His speech comes as U.S. foreign policy faces challenges from both regions.
Biden’s UN Farewell Quick Look:
- Biden’s final address at the UN focuses on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
- U.S. supports de-escalation amid growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
- Biden stresses continued Western support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
- Rising skepticism in the U.S. about ongoing support for Ukraine is a key issue.
- Talks of a potential Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalating into a regional war.
Biden’s UN Farewell Speech Will Focus on Mideast & Ukraine Tensions
Deep Look:
As President Joe Biden prepares to give his final address to the United Nations General Assembly, the global stage is dominated by two major conflicts: the growing Israel-Hezbollah confrontation in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Biden’s speech comes at a critical moment as tensions in both regions threaten to spiral out of control, with far-reaching consequences for U.S. foreign policy.
Biden is expected to call for an end to the Middle East violence, particularly focusing on Israel’s battle with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and its broader operation against Hamas in Gaza. The conflict has grown more volatile, as Hezbollah escalates attacks on Israel, and Israeli airstrikes have intensified, leading to a soaring death toll in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials reported that nearly 560 people have been killed in recent days, with thousands more displaced as the conflict spreads.
Despite rising violence, the White House insists there’s still time to prevent a wider conflict. Jon Finer, the White House’s principal deputy national security adviser, said that both Hezbollah and Israel could still de-escalate. “We do not believe a wider conflict in the north is in their interest or in Lebanon’s interest,” Finer told NPR on Tuesday. Biden’s administration is also expected to engage with allies during the UN high-level meetings this week in an effort to find solutions to the escalating violence.
Biden entered office promising to rebuild America’s global relationships and end the “forever wars” that consumed U.S. foreign policy for two decades. While his administration successfully withdrew from Afghanistan and refocused diplomatic efforts elsewhere, the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have emerged as defining issues for Biden’s legacy.
Hopes Dashed in the Middle East Just a year ago, Biden addressed the General Assembly with optimism, envisioning a more peaceful and integrated Middle East. At the time, relations between Israel and several Arab nations were improving, thanks to the Abraham Accords signed under the Trump administration, and normalization talks with Saudi Arabia were advancing. Biden’s team also helped mediate a long-standing maritime dispute between Israel and Lebanon, further fostering hope for regional stability.
However, the situation took a sharp turn when Hamas militants launched a devastating attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds more hostage. This brutal act ignited a war that has since claimed the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza and destabilized the region. The conflict threatens to expand into a multi-front war, with Israel now trading strikes with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The prospect of a broader Middle Eastern conflict casts a long shadow over Biden’s final address.
Israel-Hezbollah Tensions Rise On Tuesday, Hezbollah launched a fresh wave of rockets and drones into northern Israel, following Israel’s airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which have killed hundreds of civilians and Hezbollah fighters. In response, Israel has called for the evacuation of Lebanese civilians from areas where Hezbollah is believed to be stockpiling weapons. The Israeli military warned of “extensive strikes” in the coming days, raising concerns that the conflict could escalate further.
For Israel, the situation has become untenable. Hezbollah’s missile strikes and drones, often backed by Iran, pose a significant threat to Israel’s northern border, leading Israeli leaders to act decisively. According to Bradley Bowman, a defense strategy expert, Israel’s stepped-up operations signal its frustration with the status quo. “There are contrasting interests that transcend the politics and the politicians of the U.S.-Israel relationship. For Israel, Oct. 7 did happen, and the reality is they are facing a multi-front threat,” Bowman said.
Biden has remained cautiously hopeful about reaching a cease-fire, though recent developments suggest that such an agreement may be difficult to achieve. His administration has emphasized the need for de-escalation, sending senior officials like Amos Hochstein to Israel in an effort to prevent further escalation. However, Biden has acknowledged the difficulty in reaching a lasting resolution, stating, “A lot of things don’t look realistic until we get them done.”
Support for Ukraine Endures Biden’s final address will also highlight the ongoing war in Ukraine, where Russia’s invasion has left millions displaced and thousands dead since February 2022. The U.S. has been a key supporter of Ukraine, providing extensive military and economic aid to help Ukraine fend off Russian advances. Despite rising skepticism from some Republican lawmakers, Biden has managed to maintain broad support for Ukraine, even in the face of increasing calls to reevaluate U.S. involvement.
At the heart of the debate is whether to expand Ukraine’s access to more advanced weaponry, including long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly pressed Biden to lift restrictions on these weapons, but the U.S. remains cautious. While Ukraine has managed to produce its own drones capable of reaching Moscow, the Biden administration is wary of providing U.S.-made missiles that could strike the Russian capital, fearing it might provoke a broader conflict with NATO involvement.
Max Bergmann, a Russia expert, notes that while Biden has gradually expanded military support to Ukraine, he has done so deliberately. “Allowing Ukraine to strike further into Russian territory with U.S. weapons would be another big step, and the Biden administration is right to be deliberate,” Bergmann said.
Zelenskyy is set to meet with Biden later this week in Washington, where both leaders are expected to discuss the future of U.S. military aid and Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russian forces.
Biden’s Legacy in Question As Biden’s time in office winds down, his foreign policy legacy will largely be shaped by these two major conflicts. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East pose significant challenges for U.S. foreign policy, and Biden’s ability to navigate these crises will be critical in determining his standing on the world stage. While Biden sought to end America’s involvement in endless wars, he now finds himself presiding over a world increasingly consumed by conflict.
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