Not Looking For A New Cold War, President Biden: America's Military Shouldn't Be Used As The Answer To Every Problem
JAKARTA - US President Joe Biden said he was not seeking a new cold war, vowed to curb the military and fight against climate change, at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Including resolving crises related to Iran, the Korean Peninsula to Ethiopia.
President Biden said the world is facing a defining decade, in which dreamers must work together to combat the coronavirus pandemic, global climate change and cyber threats.
He said the United States would double its financial commitments on climate assistance and spend about $10 billion to reduce hunger globally.
Although President Biden did not utter the words 'China' or 'Beijing', he did splash an implicit reference to the US rival, along with the differences between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific, trade and human rights.
He said the United States would compete fiercely, both economically and to promote democracy and the rule of law.
“We will defend our allies and friends and oppose attempts by strong countries to dominate weaker countries, whether through forced territorial change, economic coercion, technical exploitation, or disinformation. But we are not looking for, I will say again, we are not looking for a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs," President Biden said.
Joe Biden attended this year's UN General Assembly under criticism over the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Allied emphasis was being tested with a nuclear submarine crisis involving France and the new US, British and Australian security alliance (AUKUS).
"The United States will defend its national interests. However, its mission must be clear and achievable. The American military must not be used as the answer to every problem we see around the world," he stressed.
President Joe Biden said he remained committed to peacefully resolving the dispute with Iran over its nuclear program. He also vowed to defend US ally Israel, but said a two-state solution with the Palestinians was still a necessary but distant goal.
In addition, he said the United States wanted continued diplomacy to resolve the crisis surrounding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the dangers of a growing gap between China and the United States, the world's largest economy.
"I fear that our world is moving towards two different sets of economic, trade, finance and technology rules, two different approaches to artificial intelligence development, and ultimately two different military and geopolitical strategies," Guterres said.
"This is a recipe for trouble. It will be much more difficult to predict than the Cold War," he said.