September 21, 2021

Joe Biden has promised to the United Nations that the withdrawal from Afghanistan is a turning point in history, in which “relentless war” would be supplanted by “relentless diplomacy”, pledging a renewed commitment to the UN and to his nation’s alliances.

“As I stand here today, for the first time in 20 years the United States is not at war. We’ve turned the page,” Biden said in his first address to the UN general assembly as president. “All the unmatched strength, energy, commitment, will and resources of our nation are now fully and squarely focused on what’s ahead of us, not what was behind.”

In a hastily-arranged change to the schedule, China’s president, Xi Jinping, addressed the assembly a few hours later. A deputy premier had been expected to speak for China, giving it a slot far back in the running order, on Friday afternoon. Xi’s decision to speak remotely from Beijing, allowed him to speak on the first day and respond directly to Biden.

Read more:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/21/joe-biden-un-speech-end-relentless-war-diplomacy