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WATCH: Biden Addresses 2021 United Nations General Assembly

By Brian Naylor

Published September 21, 2021 at 2:13 PM EDT

Security personnel keep watch from the roof of a building at United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday. Leaders from more than 100 nations will gather for the annual U.N. assembly this week. [Seth Wenig / AP] — Security personnel keep watch from the roof of a building at United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday. Leaders from more than 100 nations will gather for the annual U.N. assembly this week.

President Biden gives his first speech to delegates at the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday morning, one that the administration says will address an array of issues, including COVID-19, climate change, the withdrawal from Afghanistan and what one official called "vigorous competition" with the nation's competitors.

Biden is set to speak at 10 a.m. ET. You can watch the speech here:

Speaking at the U.N.'s annual gathering of world leaders in New York City, Biden will try to convince a global audience that "America is back," though some allies say he has not kept to his promises of strengthening the United States' traditional alliances.

The U.S.' abrupt withdrawal of military forces and diplomatic personnel from Afghanistan came despite urging from Britain that American troops remain longer.

A senior administration official who briefed reporters said that Biden's U.N. speech "will center on the proposition that we are closing the chapter on 20 years of war and opening a chapter of intensive diplomacy by rallying allies and partners and institutions to deal with the major challenges of our time."

France meanwhile last week recalled its ambassador to Washington following the surprise announcement that the U.S. would share nuclear submarine technology with Australia, undercutting a $60 billion deal for diesel subs that France had with the Canberra government.

There have also been concerns that the Biden administration is pushing for COVID-19 booster shots for Americans while much of the world so far lacks enough vaccines to give their citizens a single shot. The White House is holding a virtual summit on COVID on Wednesday.

Biden will keep his stay in New York brief because of COVID-related concerns. He plans to meet with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison there and hold other meetings later in the week at the White House.