Safeguard Legacy: Prepare the Path for Harris

President Joe Biden is set to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen his legacy on the international front and affirm his vision for the U.S.’s active role in global affairs. This will be Biden’s final address at the assembly before the upcoming presidential election in November.

With ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and a competitive election race against former President Donald Trump and his successor, Vice President Kamala Harris, this speech provides Biden a critical opportunity to present a compelling case for his administration’s approach to foreign policy.

At 81, Biden arrives at the annual gathering as a somewhat weakened president after briefly stepping back from the 2024 race following a NATO summit that did not go as planned. In this address, he aims to reassert that the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to rebuilding alliances has enhanced national security and deserves continued Democratic leadership for another four years.

Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta emphasized the significance of Biden’s speech, suggesting it could outline essential actions for the U.S. to safeguard its interests and principles. He noted, “He basically will be setting the agenda for the presidency of Kamala Harris.”

Biden’s narrative stands in stark contrast to Trump’s claims that conflicts across the Middle East and Ukraine would not have emerged had he remained in office. Trump has promised to avoid further foreign engagements if re-elected.

Supporting Biden, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland countered Trump’s assertions, stating that many issues currently faced began during his administration. She claimed, “All the seeds for the current conflicts were laid during the Trump administration,” adding that Trump indirectly encouraged aggressors like Putin and Hamas.

While Vice President Kamala Harris shares Biden’s views on maintaining strong international ties, she will not attend the summit in New York, leaving the spotlight for Biden.

John Bolton, former U.N. ambassador, predicted Biden’s speech would likely focus on his accomplishments and aim to solidify his legacy, though he questioned whether the American public would pay much attention.

As situation in the Middle East continues to escalate, an agreement to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict remains elusive. Biden’s administration is working to navigate a burgeoning crisis involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Recent reports indicated over 270 fatalities in Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in response to their cross-border attacks.

Israeli officials maintain their strikes were necessary to prevent a planned attack by Hezbollah, which has intensified its operations following the Hamas incursion that began earlier this month. The White House has denied prior knowledge of Israel’s plans for airstrikes and any involvement in the associated violence that resulted in many casualties in Lebanon.

Biden had not engaged with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the latest attacks and had no scheduled meetings during his time in the U.S. He has previously criticized Netanyahu, who is also expected to address the U.N. General Assembly later in the week.

John Kirby, a national security adviser, has identified Hamas as “the main obstacle” in the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. He stated, “We’re really looking ahead and trying to find a way forward that has proven difficult,” reaffirming the administration’s commitment to problem-solving despite recent challenges.

In the days leading up to the assembly, Biden has engaged with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan, reinforcing partnerships that align with U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region. National security adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted these relationships as a significant aspect of Biden’s foreign policy legacy.

The president’s agenda in New York includes addressing a climate summit and conducting bilateral discussions with the Vietnamese president, followed by a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy upon his return to Washington.

Meanwhile, Harris will separately meet with leaders, continuing the administration’s policy of military support for Ukraine. Her campaign has also stressed Trump’s ambiguous stance on Ukraine’s involvement in the ongoing conflict.

Biden’s support for NATO nations in defending Ukraine has been cited as one of the crucial foreign policy achievements of his presidency. As Panetta noted, “If the United States doesn’t provide that leadership, nobody else will.”

Source: USA TODAY