Biden to UN: US is shifting from 'relentless war' to relentless diplomacy' amid COVID-19, climate change crises

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden used his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday to declare the United States is shifting from "relentless war" to "relentless diplomacy" as he urged world leaders to meet their greatest challenges: the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

"We stand, in my view, at an inflection point in history," Biden said. "Instead of continuing to fight the wars of the past, we are fixing our eyes and devoting our resources to the challenges that hold the keys to our collective future."

Biden called on leaders to quickly step up vaccination efforts and expand access to COVID-19 treatments. He touted the U.S. global response, which includes an investment of more than $15 billion, as a "dose of hope" and said he would announce additional commitments at a virtual COVID-19 summit Wednesday. 

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