Absent from G20 portrait: Biden’s last summit ends with leaders moving on All eyes on Trump

At the Group of 20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19, world leaders gathered at the Museum of Modern Art to discuss global issues such as poverty and war.

In what may have been one of his final appearances at such an elite meeting, US President Joe Biden acknowledged that this was likely his last G20 summit, Caliber.Az reports via the New York Times (NYT).

“This is my last G20 summit,” President Biden said on November 18. “We’ve made progress together, but I urge you to keep going — and I’m sure you will, regardless of my urging or not.”

His words seemed to ring true as the summit continued. The leaders, including prime ministers and presidents from across the globe, appeared ready to move forward without him. The G20 summit in Brazil marked a pivotal moment as many leaders, while still participating in discussions, were already shifting their attention toward the future — particularly the upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Later that day, as the leaders gathered against the scenic backdrop of Rio's iconic Sugarloaf Mountain for the traditional family photograph, Biden was seen chatting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau near a palm tree. When Biden made his way to the platform for the photograph, most leaders had already left. As a result, the US president was notably absent from the official group portrait.

This final summit of Biden’s presidency gave him an opportunity to advocate for his vision of the world, but as journalists from NYT noted, the G20 countries appeared to be focused on the future rather than Biden’s plans. The leaders were already looking ahead to the next US administration under Trump, and Biden’s remarks about continued progress within the G20 seemed almost prescient — the group was ready to move on without him.

While Biden attempted to push forward his foreign policy goals during the summit, the attention of the world leaders had already shifted, with much of the focus now on President-elect Trump. On November 19, Politico reported that G20 representatives made a concerted effort not to mention Trump during the event, with notable absences of his name in speeches from leaders like Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The reluctance to mention Trump may stem from uncertainty over his intentions, as the incoming president is expected to renegotiate several international agreements — some of which could be broken. Trump has also signalled a possible shift in US relations with Russia, with the Kremlin expressing openness to normalizing ties, albeit with caution, emphasizing that it "takes two to tango" in relations with the US.

Thus, Biden’s final G20 summit highlighted a critical moment in global diplomacy, with many world leaders already preparing for the changes that the Trump administration might bring.

By Tamilla Hasanova