Biden heads for G20 to seize on Xi, Putin no-shows
Joe Biden leaves for the G20 in India on Thursday, aiming to boost alliances at a summit where global tensions will be highlighted by the absence of the leaders of China and Russia. Biden will try to show that on big transnational issues, Washington is a better partner than Beijing or Moscow -- and that the G20 remains a key forum.
But deep disagreements on Russia's war in Ukraine and on how to help emerging nations tackle climate change are expected to hamper agreements during the two-day meeting in New Delhi. "As the president heads to the G20, he's committed to working with emerging market partners to deliver big things together," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told a briefing ahead of the summit.
"That's what we believe the world will see in New Delhi this weekend." Biden will then head to Vietnam on Sunday to deepen relations with the Communist nation, in a region where the United States and China are both flexing their muscles. The 80-year-old president tested negative for Covid shortly before he was due to depart, the White House said, clearing him to travel after a scare when his wife came down with a mild case on Monday.
Jill Biden also tested negative on Thursday, her communications director said. China's Xi Jinping will miss the G20 meeting at a time of heightened trade and geopolitical tensions with the United States and India, with which it shares a long and disputed border.
Biden said last week he was "disappointed" he would not meet Xi at the G20, but the Chinese leader's no-show gives the US president a golden opportunity to push Washington's influence over its rival. White House officials said Biden would in particular stress a plan to increase World Bank and International Monetary
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