Joe Biden makes plea for democracy in final address to UN General Assembly

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US President Joe Biden has urged world leaders to preserve democracy in his valedictory address to the United Nations, describing his decision not to seek re-election as an example of putting the greater good ahead of personal interest.

“My fellow leaders, let us never forget, some things are more important than staying in power,” he told delegates to the UN General Assembly to widespread applause.

Biden’s fourth and final address to the global body came as many of Washington’s closest allies nervously anticipate former president Donald Trump’s possible return to power next year.

“Never forget we are here to serve the people, not the other way around,” he said, adding that the future “will be won by those who unleash the full potential of their people to . . . live and love openly without fear. That’s the soul of democracy”.

Despite his plea, Biden failed to offer any new ideas on how to end the conflicts that are threatening stability in Europe and the Middle East, instead repeating his administration’s appeals for peace.

On a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict in Gaza, he said: “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home and secure security for Israel and Gaza free of Hamas, ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war.”

He also said his administration was committed to averting a wider war in the Middle East even after an Israeli air assault on Lebanon on Monday killed nearly 500 people, in a dramatic escalation of its conflict with Hizbollah, the Iranian-backed movement.

“Full scale war is not in anyone’s interest. Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible,” Biden said. “In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes . . . That’s what working, that’s what we’re working tirelessly to achieve.”

On the war between Russia and Ukraine, Biden warned that the world had a “choice to make” — a veiled reference to Trump, who has pledged to end the conflict immediately after taking office should he win the US presidential election in November.

Pointing out that Russian president Vladimir Putin had failed to achieve his goal of destroying Ukraine and weakening Nato, Biden said that the world “now has another choice to make”.

“Will we sustain our support, help Ukraine win this war and preserve its freedom, or walk away and let aggression be renewed and a nation be destroyed?” he said.

“We cannot grow weary, we cannot look away, and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine, not until Ukraine wins a just and durable peace,” he added.

Biden ended his address with a plea for unity and a warning against isolationism as democracies across the world come under threat.

“We are stronger than we think. We’re stronger together than alone,” he said.