Biden's Diplomatic Sprint Amid Global Focus on Potential Successors
President Biden engages in a series of high-level diplomatic meetings, while global attention shifts to potential successors. Key issues include Gaza and Ukraine conflicts, with UN Assembly looming.
As President Joe Biden embarks on a week of intense diplomatic engagements, global attention is increasingly divided between his current administration and potential future leadership. With just four months remaining in his term, Biden is set to host a series of meetings with international allies, addressing pressing global issues while the world watches closely.
The diplomatic sprint begins with Biden welcoming Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to his Delaware residence. This meeting marks the start of a Quad summit, an informal strategic dialogue established between the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. The following day, Biden will hold separate talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The Quad, formed in 2007, has gained significance in recent years as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi, who assumed office in 2014, and Kishida, who became Prime Minister in 2021, represent key allies in this strategic partnership.
Jon Alterman, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, notes a "profound anxiety" among global leaders regarding the upcoming U.S. election. This sentiment underscores the importance of Biden's current diplomatic efforts, even as attention shifts towards potential successors.
The President's schedule continues with a meeting at the White House with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on September 23. This engagement precedes Biden's address to the UN General Assembly on September 24, where the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are expected to dominate discussions.
"It's a lot like being class president, only joking."
The UN General Assembly, established in 1945 as a principal organ of the United Nations, serves as a crucial forum for global dialogue. Biden's participation underscores the United States' continued commitment to multilateral engagement.
Amidst these diplomatic efforts, Biden faces complex foreign policy challenges. The Israel-Hamas conflict, which began in 2006, has escalated, with recent Israeli airstrikes near Beirut raising concerns about regional stability. Simultaneously, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, which started with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, continues to demand international attention.
As Biden navigates these crises, potential successors are also engaging with world leaders. Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet with Modi and possibly Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to meet separately with Zelenskyy and the UAE president.
The Cancer Moonshot Initiative, a project close to Biden's heart since its launch in 2016, is expected to feature in discussions during the Quad summit. This initiative reflects Biden's personal commitment to reducing cancer deaths, a cause that gained poignancy after his son Beau's death from brain cancer in 2015.
As the world watches these diplomatic maneuvers, the upcoming U.S. election looms large. With presidential terms limited to two four-year periods by the Constitution, the global community is keenly aware that a transition of power may be on the horizon, adding weight to every international engagement in these final months of Biden's current term.
