US President Joe Biden will give a rare Oval Office speech on Thursday to try to get Americans behind the defense of Israel and Ukraine as the crises facing Washington’s allies pile up.

According to AFP, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden’s speech would “discuss our response to Hamas attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine.”

While Biden’s speech on Thursday will undoubtedly have a domestic edge as he seeks to boost his sagging approval ratings, its Oval Office setting reflects the gravity of the global crises he faces.

Washington’s rivals are looking on, with Russia’s Vladimir Putin saying after talks in Beijing with China’s Xi Jinping on Wednesday that world conflicts “strengthen” their countries’ ties.