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20 November 2024
Biden's farewell tour
Summit season is here, and President Biden is making his final diplomatic rounds before he leaves office. After attending the APEC Summit in Peru, Biden travelled to Rio de Janeiro for his final G20 Summit as president. While in Brazil, Biden visited the Amazon rainforest, a first for a sitting president. For both events, the sideline meetings between world leaders risked overshadowing the main event.
Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their final bilateral meeting at the APEC Summit and discussed the upcoming change in US administration. Among President-elect Trump’s controversial incoming cabinet, there is a strong consensus around countering coercion from China (including support for AUKUS) and the risks of heightened tariffs looms large.
Not on the dance card? COP29. The smaller summit held this week attracted far fewer heads of state than prior years, with President Biden, President Xi, Prime Minister Albanese and others giving it a miss.
NEWS WRAP
Turmoil around Trump's picks
Pressure builds to release Gaetz report | The House Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday amidst increasing calls to release the report following their investigation into former congressman Matt Gaetz. Last week, President-elect Trump nominated Gaetz to serve as attorney general and House Speaker Mike Johnson said the report should not be released. READ MORE
COP29 fades into background | Many world leaders sent deputies to attend the COP29 Summit in Azerbaijan this year, but even then, many made an early exit to travel to Brazil for the G20 Summit. This year’s summit is expected to progress the financial plan for richer countries to pay developing countries to fight climate change. READ MORE
Operation Warp Speed: Trump Administration 2.0 | President-elect Trump has continued his administration nominations at a breakneck pace. Recent appointments include embattled former congressman Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, former congressman and Fox News host Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr for Secretary of Health and Human Services, and energy executive Chris Wright for Energy Secretary. READ MORE
Russia says Ukraine used US missiles to strike inside Russia | Moscow said that Ukraine has used US missiles to strike inside Russia for the first time. This follows President Biden lifting restrictions that prevented Ukraine from using US missiles to strike deep inside Russia. World leaders ramped up their rhetoric in support of Ukraine heading into the G20 Summit with UK’s Keir Starmer emphasising the need to “double down” and Germany’s Olaf Scholz calling Putin to urge an end to the war. READ MORE
Lutnick for Commerce, not Treasury | Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick has just been nominated for Commerce Secretary. This follows reports of tensions escalating at Mar a Lago between Elon Musk and Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn, with Musk publicly backing Lutnick for Treasury Secretary and Epshteyn pushing for prominent investor Scott Bessent for the role. READ MORE
The election of the president of the United States is an important moment for the world. It’s important for our region. It’s important for Australia.
Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd at SISF 2024 | 20 November 2024
BY THE NUMBERS
Major summits attended by US presidents
Speaking at his first major summit after taking office in 2021, President Biden told the Munich Security Conference, “America is back” and emphasised the US commitment to international alliances and partnerships. Over the course of his term, Biden made good on that promise, significantly increasing attendance by both himself and his administration at major international summits.
While the COVID-19 pandemic was the cause for some cancellations, even before the pandemic, former president Trump only attended one ASEAN Summit. The Quad was revived in Trump’s first term, but it was President Biden who elevated it to leader-level.
Neither Biden nor Trump visited Australia while in office. The last sitting president to visit Australia was former president Obama when he attended the G20 Summit in 2014.
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
