In a speech at the United Nations General Assembly this Wednesday (21), US President Joe Biden accused Russia of flagrantly violating the principles basic principles of the UN by “invading its neighbour”, Ukraine, and “trying to erase a sovereign state from the map”.
“The basis of the UN Charter, a stable and just order based on in rules, it is being attacked by those who want to destroy it for their own political advantage,” he said.
“This war aims to extinguish Ukraine’s right to exist as a state and the right to Ukrainians to exist as a people,” Biden said. ” Putin claims he had to act because Russia was threatened, but no one threatened Russia and no one other than Russia sought conflict,” the American said in his speech.
Hours earlier, Putin had announced the mobilization of 300 thousand reservists and threatened to use nuclear weapons to “defend Russia”, at a time when occupation leaders are organizing referendums to annex regions of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
Biden called for a reform of the UN Security Council, with an increase in permanent and non-permanent members. He also stressed that permanent members of the Council, including the US, should “avoid using the veto, except in unusual and extraordinary situations” to ensure that the body is “reliable and effective.”
Furthermore, he emphasized that the US is in favor of increasing the number of Council members and assigning permanent seats to countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Brazil, both in the current government of Jair Bolsonaro, as in previous ones, he expressed interest in becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. “I think the time has come to make this institution more inclusive,” Biden said.
Possible Security Council reform has been discussed for decades, but so far no progress has been made.
The main decision-making body of the UN has five permanent members with the right to veto (USA, Russia, China, France and UK) and another ten non-permanent members, who are elected for terms of office. two years – Brazil is one of the current ones.
Biden also stated this Wednesday that he does not seek a “Cold War” with China and reiterated that Washington will not support any unilateral change of status quo with Taiwan, whose sovereignty is claimed by Beijing.
“We are not looking for conflict, we are not looking for a Cold War. We don’t want any nation to have to choose between the United States and another ally. But the United States will promote a free, open, secure Indo-Pacific and a prosperous world,” Biden told the UN General Assembly.
The president reiterated his government’s respect for the principle “ one China” that Beijing imposes as a basis for its ties with any country, so that the only Chinese government that the US should recognize is the one based in Beijing, distancing Taiwan’s aspirations of independence.
These comments about China and Taiwan come after Biden said in an interview with CBS on Sunday that he would send US military forces to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
The White House later sought to soften these statements, saying that policy towards Taiwan has not changed.
The tension between the US and China over Taiwan has increased in recent months with Chinese military exercises. near the island and a controversial visit in early August by House Speaker Nancy P elosi.
The US maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” in relation to Taiwan, leaving it in the air if it would act to defend the island militarily.
As part of the Taiwan Relations Act, the US earlier this month announced a US$1.1 billion military assistance package to the island, the largest ever granted to Taipei under Biden.
