Pres. Biden addresses UN General Assembly on pandemic: “Our shared grief is a poignant reminder that our collective future will hinge on our ability to recognize our common humanity and to act together.”
President Joe Biden arrives for the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 21, 2021, in New York. The summit will feature the first speech to the world body by President Biden.
Given Biden's key campaign pledge of restoring the standing of the U.S. on the world stage, the remarks could be a critical test. The speech is one part of a week that will see Biden focusing on global partnerships, amid tensions on the global stage in the wake of the AUKUS deal announced last week with Australia and the United Kingdom, aimed at curbing China's influence on in the Indo-Pacific region.
Administration officials also confirmed that Biden is currently working to find time to speak with France's President Emmanuel Macron, clearly hoping to try and smooth things over with an important U.S. ally, after a diplomatic dustup over the submarine deal with Australia."The president wants to communicate his desire to work closely with France in the Indo-Pacific and globally, and to talk about specific practical measures that we can undertake together.
In addition to his remarks, Biden will meet on Tuesday with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, before returning to Washington to host a bilateral meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.An exterior view is seen of UN headquarters during the high-level 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Sept. 20, 2021, in New York.