President Joe Biden escapes bruising political turmoil at home for the more convivial world of diplomacy at twin summits in Europe this week — but the experience could be just as frustrating. To a veteran foreign policy expert like Biden, the G20 summit in Rome on the weekend and the United Nations’ COP26 climate summit in Glasgow next Monday and Tuesday should be a respite, if not exactly a Roman holiday.
Instead of battling with his divided Democratic Party or trying to ignore insults thrown at him by embittered ex-president Donald Trump and his Republicans, Biden will rub shoulders largely with friends. The 78-year-old will have a perfect chance to push his mantra that “America is back.
Yet for a president battling to turn those words into more than a slogan, the expected absences from Rome and Glasgow of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping will make it hard to achieve much.
He’ll point out US leadership in global Covid vaccine donations and press for recognition that despite foot dragging in Congress back home, he has brought the United States back to the table on climate change action.
Biden will also take credit for an OECD-brokered agreement that sets a global minimum corporate tax of 15 percent — a plan aimed at leveling the playing field for governments competing to attract international corporations.
“After a lot of commentary in recent weeks about the state of the transatlantic relationship, the United States and Europe head into these two summits aligned in, united on the major elements of the global agenda,” Sullivan said.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Ntando Duma is in trouble for campaigning with the EFF
South African actress and television personality Ntando Duma has had quite a roller-coaster year so far. After making her first appearance on Mzansi Magic telenovela, “The Queen” in 2020, she quit the show this July after she was cast for an upcoming Netflix original series.
Her stint on the telenovela was marred by constant social media criticism of her acting skills. The actress and Ferguson Films remained mum on the criticism throughout. Learn more
