In his address to the United Nations, US President Biden invoked peaceful solutions to global crises and conflicts. The United States did not want a “world divided into rigid blocks”. US climate aid would be doubled.

No more going it alone and “America First” politics, no more multilateralism and a clear commitment to international institutions: US President Joe Biden assured the international community of his willingness to cooperate in his speech to the UN general debate .

The United States is back at the table in international forums such as the United Nations. “Our security, our prosperity and our freedoms are, in my opinion, more linked than ever before,” he said.

“The great powers in responsibility”

In this context, he also promised not to fight for a “new cold war” with China. The United States is ready to “compete” with other nations, but does not want a “new cold war or a world divided into rigid blocs”.

The great powers of the world have a responsibility to carefully shape their international relations. “So we are not switching from responsible competition to conflict.” The US president did not explicitly name China. Biden, however, made it clear that the United States stands up for its partners and allies and opposes all attempts by stronger countries to dominate weaker countries.

In his speech, Biden pointed out that the end of the mission in Afghanistan marked a new era in diplomacy. “As we end this period of relentless warfare, we usher in a new era of relentless diplomacy,” he said.

Military force should only be used as a last resort. He could also imagine a return to the nuclear deal with Iran. If the Islamic Republic adheres to the terms of the 2015 agreement.

More climate aid for poor countries

The US president said the world faces a pivotal decade in light of the climate crisis. He pledged the United Nations to double their annual climate aid to help the poorest countries. “This will make the United States a pioneer in public climate finance,” Biden said.

Together with the international community and other donors, the goal of providing $ 100 billion per year to support developing countries can be achieved. In April, Biden announced an increase in climate aid to $ 5.7 billion (€ 4.9 billion) per year. Climate aid to developing countries is an important element of the international strategy to combat global warming.

Guterres: “Standing on the edge of the abyss”

Prior to Biden’s appearance, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres kicked off the start of the United Nations General Assembly. “I am here to sound the alarm: the world must wake up. We are on the brink and moving in the wrong direction. Our world has never been so in danger and never more divided. We are divided. facing the greatest cascade of crises of our life. “

Guterres called the uneven distribution of the coronavirus vaccine “blasphemy”. The world is not united enough in the face of crises such as the pandemic and climate change, lamented the UN chief. “Instead of humility in the face of these epic challenges, we see presumption. Instead of the path of solidarity, we are at a dead end of destruction.”

Nonetheless, he still had hope, Guterres said. “The problems we created are problems we can solve. Humanity has shown that we can achieve great things when we work together.”

Merkel: “Setting an example at the climate conference”

Ahead of the high-level meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel campaigned for more ambitious climate protection goals around the world. Germany wants to be climate neutral by 2045, she said in a video message. “We are also setting an example for the Glasgow climate conference,” she said ahead of COP26, which begins on November 1.

With information from Antje Passenheim, ARD-Studio Washington