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69传媒淥ur task, our test,69传媒� the president said, 69传媒渋s to make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than those that are pulling us apart.69传媒� Today69传媒檚 choices, he said, 69传媒渨ill determine our future for decades to come.69传媒�

69传媒淲e are in an era of epic transformation,69传媒� the secretary-general said, 69传媒渇acing challenges unlike any we have ever seen 69传媒� challenges that demand global solutions.69传媒�

The perilous descriptions of today69传媒檚 frayed geopolitical order went even deeper as both Biden and Guterres continued with comments that were complementary but not coordinated as the United Nations began its 79th annual General Assembly on Tuesday at U.N. Headquarters in New York.

Biden, bidding farewell to the world stage, was more self-referential. Guterres, who has a few more years on his second term, was a bit wearier. But the speeches69传媒� similarities were striking.

Reflecting a worldview tied to geopolitics, Guterres said that 69传媒渨e are edging toward the unimaginable 69传媒� a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.69传媒�

Among the potential igniters is what the secretary-general described as 69传媒渁 world of impunity, where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the U.N. charter,69传媒� as well as 69传媒渁 world of inequality, where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge69传媒� and 69传媒渁 world of uncertainty, where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.69传媒�

Biden channeled these challenges 69传媒� especially Russia69传媒檚 illegal, immoral invasion of Ukraine. 69传媒淲e cannot grow weary; we cannot look away,69传媒� Biden said after highlighting his administration69传媒檚 advocacy for Ukraine and strengthening of alliances, including a reinvigorated and expanded NATO, which along with everyday Ukrainians 69传媒渟tood up.69传媒�

Beyond Eastern Europe, the Mideast was on both leaders69传媒� minds as they addressed fellow world leaders. Indeed, as they spoke carnage continued on multiple fronts, including the deadliest days since at least 2006 in Lebanon, the home base of Iran-backed Hezbollah, which like Hamas in Gaza is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S. and scores of other countries.

69传媒淲e should all be alarmed by the escalation,69传媒� said Guterres. 69传媒淭he people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.69传媒�

Imperiled Palestinian civilians, Biden said, 69传媒渄idn69传媒檛 ask for this war that Hamas started.69传媒� Nor, of course, did Israeli citizens. 69传媒淭he world must not flinch from the horrors of October 7,69传媒� the president said.

Guterres and Biden called for a cease-fire and continued their unceasing call for a Palestinian state.

69传媒淔ull-scale war is not in anyone69传媒檚 interest,69传媒� Biden said, adding that a 69传媒渄iplomatic solution is still possible.69传媒�

Transnational challenges were on both leaders69传媒� agenda too 69传媒� especially unchecked artificial intelligence and climate change.

Biden, bowing out of foreign affairs after 50 years, was wistful in saying 69传媒渢here is so much more I want to get done.69传媒� But, he added, 69传媒淪ome things are more important than staying in power: It69传媒檚 your people.69传媒�

While that admonition was for assembled presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and others, it might also have been meant for former President Donald Trump, who if elected threatens to alienate the alliances Biden bolstered while accommodating authoritarians who pose a continuing threat to democracy.

Indeed, the next American president will likely reap a global whirlwind. That leader must understand the geopolitical complexity and consequences of exceedingly dangerous conflicts that continue to burn worldwide.