President Joe Biden concluded his meetings at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in India’s capital, New Delhi, where he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi alongside other world leaders. After leaving India, President Biden traveled to Vietnam to announce a strengthened partnership with the communist nation. The president’s visit to Asia took place amidst increasing competition between the United States and China. The absence of Chinese leader Xi Jinping from the summit, as well as China’s objections to the United States hosting the G20 Summit in 2026, highlighted the tensions between the two powerful countries. President Biden aimed to present America as a reliable partner and unite the world’s richest countries around common goals, such as providing “non-coercive” development financing options to developing nations.
The G20 summit in New Delhi was marked by divisions among member countries, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine. The joint communiqué issued by the G20 members avoided specifically denouncing Russia over the conflict and instead urged all countries to refrain from using force to annex territory. Despite objections from Russia and China, a compromise was reached on the wording. However, the statement was viewed as having softer language regarding the Russia-Ukraine war compared to previous declarations. The Ukrainian foreign ministry criticized the joint declaration for not labeling Russia as an aggressor in the conflict. The White House defended the statement, calling it “unprecedented.”
During the summit, the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates announced a memorandum of understanding for an infrastructure project that would connect India, the Middle East, and Europe through sea and rail transportation. This project, aimed at countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative, would create an economic corridor linked by a railway line and existing ports. The United States will play a crucial role in facilitating negotiations over the agreement’s terms. President Biden welcomed the MOU and emphasized its significance at the summit.
China expressed opposition to the United States hosting the G20 in 2026, with support from Russia. While national security advisor Jake Sullivan did not deny the reports of China’s objection, he noted that the decision had already been adopted in the communiqué. China and all G20 members agreed to the United States hosting the 2026 summit. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were absent from the summit, and President Biden did not speak with either of them during the event.