At U.N. Conference, Global Crises Collide With Fraught American Politics

When Biden speaks to leaders of the world at the United Nations on Tuesday morning, his speech will be replete with assertions about America’s purpose in defining the world.

They say he will “emphasise American dominance”, “call world together to act” or offer his “vision on how the world should address common concerns” in its problems.

But in fact, Mr. Biden will speak at a time of considerable doubt about the future of American leadership, from the war in Ukraine to new and more intense conflicts in the Middle East and rising economic rivalry with China.

Mr. Biden says he will continue to seek a ceasefire that could bring about a halt to the violence in Gaza, and his national security advisors are working around the clock to prevent the escalation of the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Mr. Biden still comes across some pressing choices in Ukraine; whether to permit the employment of the American long-range guns deep into Russia.

But there is the feeling somehow that the longer-term purpose of America is still far from certain. Vice President Kamala Harris generally aligns or supports Mr. Biden on the strategic alliances perspective, but her policy positions are not fully clear given her short campaign period she launched. Formal US president Donald J. Trump threatens to bring back his ‘Americas First’ democracy-shackling autarkism while nonetheless declaring himself a diplomatic maestro.

The world leaders are assembling at the U.N. as simultaneous global crises are encroaching on America’s politics in a manner that may redefine how the U.S. engages with the world’s hardest challenges.

“So for a world that is currently witnessing a war in Ukraine and a war in Gaza and the possible outbreak of a war in Lebanon, where the US stands on this issue is both significant and inconsequential,” said Jon B. Alterman the director of the Middle East program, CSIS Washington.

That, said Mr. Alterman, is something where determining where America is going after November’s elections is one of the most important elements of leaders of other nations’ thinking.

To that end, many leaders are expected to be running around to meet the three leaders of America today or tomorrow, Mr. Biden, Ms. Harris, and Mr. Trump during, or after their New York sojourn to the United Nations General Assembly this week.

Following a meeting between the Emirati leader and Mr. Biden in the White House on Monday afternoon, the vice president separately met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the president of the United Arab Emirates, behind closed doors. LAWMAKERS said Mr. Biden will address escalating violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Ms. Harris will highlight the Emirati role in Sudan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to meet with Mr Biden in the Oval Office on Thursday following the speech at the United Nations Office. On Thursday afternoon, later, Mr. Zelensky will meet with Ms. Harris at the White House, one on one — a sign that he is keen on deepening the bilateral chemistry between him and her in case she wins the presidency in November voting.

Since that meeting aides stated that the White House has no more scheduled activities for Ms. Harris to meet with foreign leaders/vice presidents or travel outside the United States before Election Day as the VP solely turns to campaigning.

It has also raised questions on a Trump-Zelensky meeting but a spokesman for the former president dismissed such a prospect on Monday.