President Biden addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as U.S. President on Tuesday (watch above), saying that the world is at an “inflection point in history” amid the dual threat of the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.
Biden said these crises present “enormous opportunities” for global cooperation and announced that the U.S. would double its contributions to an international fund that helps low-income countries adopt climate mitigation projects. In April, his administration pledged $5.6 billion to that cause.
UN chief says climate alarms are ringing at a "fever pitch" in frustrated speech https://t.co/ueIWE0h2MJ
— CNN (@CNN) September 21, 2021
In a thinly-veiled rebuke of Donald Trump’s “America First” approach, Biden said he believes that “to deliver for our own people, we must also engage deeply with the rest of the world.”
Biden also sought to ease international concerns about America’ leadership role. The Associated Press explains:
Eight months into his presidency, Biden has been out of sync with allies on the chaotic ending to the U.S. war in Afghanistan. He has faced differences over how to go about sharing coronavirus vaccines with the developing world and over pandemic travel restrictions. And there are questions about the best way to respond to military and economic moves by China.
On Tuesday, Biden addressed the end of the war in Afghanistan explaining that the U.S. “will continue to defend ourselves, our allies and our interests against attack, including terrorist threats.” He added, “But the mission must be clear and achievable, and U.S. military power must be our tool of last resort, not our first.”
"U.S. military power must be our tool of last resort, not our first — and it should not be used as an answer to every problem we see around the world," Pres. Biden says in address at UN General Assembly. pic.twitter.com/39QirYSvWe
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 21, 2021
“Today, many of our greatest concerns cannot be solved or even addressed by the force of arms,” he continued. “Bombs and bullets cannot defend against Covid-19 or its future variants.”
Amid growing tensions with China, Biden added that the U.S. is “not seeking a new Cold War.”
Biden is expected to meet with the prime ministers of Australia and the U.K. on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The countries recently agreed to a defense alliance that includes a deal to send nuclear-powered submarines built in the U.S. and U.K. to Australia.
France was outraged that the deal imploded their own $66 billion contract to build Australia a diesel-powered submarine fleet.
Biden is expected to talk with French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron by phone on Tuesday.