Biden addresses United Nations

With international leaders questioning some of his policy and military decisions, President Joe Biden gave his first speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. He called for global unity in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and human rights abuses.

Why is Biden controversial on the international stage? The United States recently announced an Indo-Pacific nuclear agreement with the United Kingdom and Australia—a move to curb China’s power in the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the U.S. and China to repair a “completely dysfunctional relationship.” Biden answered that the U.S. is not pursuing a Cold War with China and wants to avoid military conflict. Meanwhile, France has recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the United States in protest of how the new alliance was formed. In the speech, Biden also defended the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, signaling an administration focus to avoid the use of force. He said the administration is starting a “new era of relentless diplomacy.”

Dig deeper: Read my report in the Sift about the new security alliance, AUKUS.