President Joe Biden is gearing up for his visit to the United Nations, where top aides are planning to engage in pull-aside meetings with various world leaders and their delegations to address the escalating situation in the Middle East. Despite the pre-set formal schedules for Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the abundance of heads of state in one location makes informal interactions quite feasible.
An official from the White House highlighted the significance of the General Assembly, emphasizing that the ongoing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel are being incorporated into the discussions. To bolster these conversations, key national security aides such as national security adviser Jake Sullivan, White House coordinator for Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, and special adviser Amos Hochstein will be accompanying Biden and Blinken at the General Assembly.
These aides have been actively engaged in shuttle diplomacy in recent months, striving to broker a ceasefire agreement in the region. Their presence at the General Assembly signifies a concerted effort to prioritize sideline discussions focused on the Middle East.
