The UN in the Biden Era: Challenges in the Year Ahead
Channel: International Crisis Group
Date: 2021-09-29

Following President Biden's first speech to the UN General Assembly, what are the main challenges for the U.S. and UN in the year ahead?

While the Biden administration has promised that "multilateralism is back", crises including the Afghan collapse and Tigray war in Ethiopia are stretching UN humanitarian mechanisms to their limits. Can the U.S. find common ground with China and Russia in the Security Council to manage these challenges? What should the UN's priorities be on the ground?

In this panel discussion, Crisis Group experts reflect upon the president's speech and other takeaways from the UN General Assembly, and address how the U.S. can work through the UN to handle major crises, with a focus on Afghanistan and Ethiopia.

Panelists:
Gérard Araud, Crisis Group Trustee, Former Ambassador of France to the U.S. (2014-2019) and the UN (2009-2014)
Laurel Miller, Asia Program Director, Crisis Group
Murithi Mutiga, Horn of Africa Project Director, Crisis Group

The event is moderated by Richard Gowan, UN Director, Crisis Group