President Joe Biden embarked on his journey to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India amid speculations about COVID-19 transmission and the cancellation of the trip. Despite not taking questions from the press, he confidently boarded Air Force One. The timing of his departure coincides with the Department of Justice’s announcement of potential gun charges against his son Hunter by the end of the month. Additionally, Biden faced criticism for commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Alaska. Furthermore, the latest poll results from CNN revealed that a majority of voters, including Democrats, believe he is too old to run for office and that he is in a close race with Donald Trump.
The White House has remained tight-lipped about Biden’s schedule for the summit, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that no contingency plans were in place should Biden be unable to attend. However, it is expected that he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the host of the G20, upon his arrival before participating in G20 sessions throughout the weekend. Afterward, Biden will continue his journey to Vietnam.
The G20 summit will see notable absentees, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is sending Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his place due to the ongoing Ukraine invasion. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also skipping the summit due to tensions with India. The diplomatic dispute between China and India in the Himalayas remains unresolved, prompting Xi to send Premier Li Qiang in his stead.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged the Chinese delegation to participate constructively despite Xi’s absence, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change, multilateral development bank reform, debt relief, and technology. These issues align with the top agenda item for the U.S., which is World Bank reform to fund climate and infrastructure projects. The aim is to divert developing economies from China’s lending practices and promote closer ties with Western nations.
The absence of Putin and Xi at the G20 summit has garnered attention, particularly regarding Biden’s potential meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While plans for the meeting remain uncertain, there are discussions of a significant deal between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. that could lead to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Biden administration seeks to finalize this diplomatic breakthrough before the 2024 presidential election intensifies. However, such a meeting could be contentious due to Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Additionally, Biden’s decision to skip the traditional 9/11 ceremonies on the way back from India and Vietnam could further complicate the timing of a potential meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, as it may draw criticism from 9/11 families who have long sought justice from the Saudi government.
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