President Joe Biden is set to embark on a journey to New Delhi, where he will convene with leaders from the world’s most influential economies at the Group of 20 summit, reaffirming his role as the diplomat in chief.
Throughout his presidency, Biden has championed diplomacy and multilateralism, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law and alliances in countering the rise of autocracy.
National security advisor Jake Sullivan expressed the unwavering commitment of the United States to the G20, hopeful that this summit would demonstrate the ability of major economies to collaborate even in challenging times.
The G20 represents a colossal share of the global stage, accounting for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population. President Biden’s agenda will prioritize addressing Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, tackling climate change, managing the global economy, and supporting developing nations, according to Sullivan.
President Biden almost missed attending the summit in person due to his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, testing positive for Covid-19 over Labor Day weekend. However, he will continue on to Hanoi, Vietnam, and subsequently travel to Alaska to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Notably absent from the summit will be the leaders of two significant nations, Russia and China. Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be represented by other officials. This marks the first time a Chinese president has missed a G20 summit since its inception in 2008.
The absence of Putin and Xi underscores tensions between host country India and China, stemming from a 2020 incident on their Himalayan border that resulted in casualties.
Putin’s continued absence from international events follows an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in March for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Even without Putin’s presence, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will remain a central topic of discussion.
Similar to the previous year, Russia’s conflict in Ukraine is expected to stir disagreement among G20 members and complicate the crafting of a joint statement, particularly with Xi’s non-attendance. In Indonesia, the group managed to achieve a consensus on a joint communique condemning the war, albeit with cautious wording. Failure to do so this time would mark a historic departure for the G20.
Sullivan confirmed that President Biden would once again advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. “Russia’s illegal war has had devastating social and economic consequences, with the poorest countries suffering the most,” Sullivan stated. “As he has done before, President Biden will call for a just and lasting peace, rooted in respect for international law.”
