US President Pledges $11bn Annually for Climate Aid, Emphasizes Diplomacy Over Military Intervention
In his first address to the UN General Assembly as President, Joe Biden marked a turning point in US foreign policy. He declared that the withdrawal from Afghanistan would signify the end of “relentless war” and the beginning of a new era of “relentless diplomacy,” with a focus on development and international cooperation.
“For the first time in 20 years, the United States is not at war,” Biden told the assembly. “We’ve turned the page.” He emphasized that the nation’s resources would now be directed toward future challenges, not past conflicts.
Biden’s speech came amid a dramatic turn of events, as China’s President Xi Jinping addressed the assembly later in the day. Speaking remotely from Beijing, Xi responded to Biden’s comments, advocating for a vision of global progress where one country’s success does not come at the expense of another. He also reiterated China’s stance against foreign military intervention, without directly naming the US.
Biden’s address was marked by a stark contrast to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who had been openly critical of the UN. The President expressed a renewed commitment to multilateralism and pledged $11 billion annually to assist developing nations in responding to the global climate crisis.
Despite Biden’s appeals for global peace and diplomacy, his remarks were met with skepticism in the UN chamber. This skepticism was fueled by the recent secret negotiations between the US, UK, and Australia to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, raising questions about the US’s commitment to the multilateral cooperation it called for.
Biden also sought to defend the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, framing it as part of a broader shift away from prolonged military engagements like those in Afghanistan and Iraq, often referred to as the “forever wars.” He reaffirmed that while the US would prioritize diplomacy, it would remain vigilant in defending itself and its allies through counter-terrorism efforts.
