President Biden urges unity in first UN speech amid tensions with allies

See the source image

In his first address to the United Nations, US President Joe Biden has urged global cooperation through “a decisive decade for our world”.

His calls for unity come amid tensions with allies over the US’ Afghanistan withdrawal and a major diplomatic row with France over a submarine deal.

The US also announced it was doubling its climate finance pledge by 2024.

Reaffirming his support for democracy and diplomacy, Mr Biden said: “We must work together like never before.”

The 76th General Assembly in New York City takes place against the backdrop of a climate crisis and a once-in-a-century pandemic, both of which have sharpened global divides.

Mr Biden pushed for cooperation on these fronts, saying: “Whether we choose to fight for our shared future or not will reverberate for generations to come. Simply put, we stand, in my view, at an inflection point in history.”

Mr Biden on Tuesday stressed that the US is “not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs”.

CONTINUE