-Analysis-
PARIS — For his final address to the United Nations General Assembly, Joe Biden took on the role of a wise old man giving advice at the end of a long life. He recalled past moments of despair, for the United States or the world, always followed by better days. It was a message of hope that the 46th President of the United States wished to leave as he nears the end of his long political career.
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This speech could have been just as touching if the world it leaves behind had not once again fallen prey to the clash of war, conflict and rising despair, for which the United States and its President bear their share of responsibility. This speech, a sort of diplomatic last will, ultimately slid too far into wishful thinking at a time when the world would need the United States to be more forceful and decisive
Two burning issues
There are two burning issues on Biden’s desk right now. The first is, of course, the worsening situation in the Middle East, with Lebanon plunging into the chaos of war. The United States can’t do everything, but it’s the only country that can do something, and the feeling shared by much of the world is that it’s not doing it.
Biden reaffirmed in his Tuesday address his declaration that the war in Gaza and its trail of civilian casualties be brought to an end, that the hostages held by Hamas be released, and that the Palestinians finally have a state. But he has come up against a wall — Benjamin Netanyahu — and seems quite resigned standing before it.
The other issue is Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was present to listen to Biden. He heard strong support for Kyiv, but nothing about his pressing request for a green light for the use of Western missiles on Russian territory. He will have to wait for his meeting with Biden in Washington at the end of the week to find out whether he will cross this new rubicon.
American responsibility
The American president was greeted by world leaders with relief when he took office in January 2021, after Donald Trump’s chaotic term. His return to a predictable presidency, his support for multilateralism, were welcomed, especially in Europe.
If Trump had been in the White House, it’s quite possible that Ukraine wouldn’t exist today.
Likewise, he has certainly enabled Ukraine to resist Russian invasion. If Trump had been in the White House, it’s quite possible that Ukraine wouldn’t exist today.
But the head of the world’s leading power is faced with a double choice that weighs heavily: to give Ukraine more than just the means to survive, but to change the balance of power in the face of Putin; and to rise to the bloody challenges of the Middle East, where he is perceived as too complacent with Israel.
Perhaps the truest moment of his speech came when he spoke of his decision not to run for a second term. “Some things,” he said, “are more important than staying in power.”
Listening to every word was an audience that included plenty of autocrats clinging to power. They duly applauded, but that doesn’t mean they heard the message.
