António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General: “COVID and the climate crisis have exposed profound fragilities of societies and as a planet, yet instead of humility in the face of these epic challenges, we see hubris instead of the passive solidarity, we are on a dead end to destruction.”
“At the same time, another disease is spreading in our world today, a melody of mistrust when people see promises of progress denied by the realities of their harsh daily lives, when they see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed, when they see petty as well as grand corruption around them, when they see billionaires joy riding to space while millions go hungry on Earth, when parents see a future for their children, that looks even bleaker than the struggles of today and when young people see no future at all.”
Joe Biden, U.S. President: “We’re back at the table in international forums, especially the United Nations, to focus attention and to spur global action on shared challenges. We are re-engaged at the World Health Organization and working in close partnership with COVAX to deliver lifesaving vaccines around the world. We rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and we’re running to retake a seat in the Human Rights Council next year at the U.N.. And as the United States seeks to rally the world to action, we will lead not just to the example of our power, but God willing, with the power of our example. Make no mistake, the United States will continue to defend ourselves, our allies and our interests against attack, including terrorist threats. As we prepared to use force, if any is necessary, but to defend our vital U.S. national interest, including against ongoing and imminent threats, but the mission must be clear and achievable undertaking with informed consent of the American people and whenever possible, in partnership with our allies. U.S. military power must be our tool of last resort, not our first, and it should not be used as an answer to every problem we see around the world. Indeed, today, many of our greatest concerns cannot be solved or even addressed through the force of arms.”