Obama stresses importance of diplomacy over force in U.N. speech


President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, stressing the importance of the U.S. working peacefully with other nations to keep international order.
"We see an argument made that the only strength that matters for the United States is bellicose words and shows of military force — that cooperation and diplomacy will not work," he said in New York City. "As president of the United States, I am mindful of the dangers that we face. They cross my desk every morning. I lead the strongest military the world has ever known, and I will never hesitate to protect my country and our allies, unilaterally and by force, when necessary. But I stand before you today believing in my core that we, the nations in the world, cannot return to the old ways of conflict and coercion. We cannot look backwards."
Before a much-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Obama vowed to work with "any country" to address the ongoing civil war in Syria, including Russia and Iran. Russia has been upping its military presence in the country, while the U.S. is looking for support from the Kremlin in ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Obama encouraged global leaders to keep pushing for peacekeeping, especially in the face of international terrorist groups like ISIS, which he dubbed "an apocalyptic cult." He also acknowledged that diplomacy is not "politically popular," but touted the deal the U.S. and other world powers negotiated with Iran, which will curb the nation's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
"Human progress never travels in straight lines," Obama said. "Our work is far from complete."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
-
June 28 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include stupid wars, a critical media, and mask standards
-
Thai fish pie with crispy turmeric potatoes recipe
The Week Recommends Tasty twist on the Lancashire hot pot is given a golden glow
-
Palestine Action: protesters or terrorists?
Talking Point Damaging RAF equipment at Brize Norton blurs line between activism and sabotage, but proscription is a drastic step
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders
-
Mamdani upsets Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary
Speed Read Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani beat out Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from