Biden will deliver the final speech at the UN, focusing on the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine

This week marks the last time President Joe Biden will address the world’s major international forum: the hundreds of leaders who gather each year for the United Nations General Assembly.

His speech early Tuesday comes at a critical time, says U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

“We say this every year, but this UNGA could not come at a more critical and challenging time,” she said at a UN briefing last week. “The list of crises and conflicts that require attention and action just seems to grow and grow.”

At the top of that list: Gaza. The US position is not in line with the rest of the general assembly, which last week overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territory within the next 12 months. The United States was among the 14 votes against.

Thomas-Greenfield said the US vote was consistent with Washington’s opposition to “unilateral measures that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution”.

Analysts expect Biden to discuss his support for Israel and his support for Ukraine in this year’s speech. He will highlight these two conflicts as major challenges as he ends his presidency.

“In the Middle East, it looks like, you know, ‘How do you keep a lid on this and hope that the conflict doesn’t spiral into a regional war?’” said Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at the Center for Third Way thinking in Washington. “And I think that’s anybody’s best guess as to what’s going to happen.”

One thing is painfully clear: As the Israel-Hamas conflict approaches a year, nearly 100 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas custody. The White House says bringing them home is its top priority and a key pillar of a deal to end fighting between Israel and the US-designated terrorist group.

For months, Biden’s emissaries have been running between Qatar and Cairo to try to bring the sides together. And for months, they appeared to be on the precipice of a deal, only for it to fall apart.

Kessler said many leaders will give Biden a warm welcome during his closing remarks because he used his term to rebuild alliances and restore global norms.

“There is a lot of affection for him in most nations,” he told VOA. “Of course, there are a few where they don’t exist. And there’s a real fear of what it would mean if Donald Trump were president.”

Professor Michael Cox of Chatham House said world leaders were worried about another Trump term.

“Ukraine may have the most cause for concern. After all, Trump has never shown much inclination to support Ukraine.”

Kim Lewis contributed from Washington.