Briefings

Week InReview: October 29, 2021

Biden's G20 challenge.
 
A worker looks at the G20 media center at the Palazzo dei Congressi, in the city's EUR district, that will host the G20 summit with heads of state from major nations for a two-day meeting from October 30-31, in Rome, Italy. Photo: Remo Casilli/Reuters
 
(Oct 27) — U.S. President Joe Biden entered office declaring that “America's back” and vowing a new era of engagement with the world. He arrives in Rome this week for a meeting of the world's largest economies facing deep skepticism that he can make good on that promise.
 
Initial optimism that Biden would undo the former president's go-it-alone approach has faded after a calamitous Afghanistan withdrawal and other early moves that alienated allies. And Biden's struggle to deliver on his legislative agenda has fueled doubt that the U.S. can lead the world in fighting climate change, the post-pandemic economic recovery or other priorities.
 
Closing the perception gap between his foreign-policy promises and the reality of his presidency so far is crucial for Biden. That's particularly true with the Group of 20, which helped the world recover from global economic disaster in the late 1990s and 2000s but whose impact has waned as fractures grow between the U.S., Russia, China and other members.
 
Source: Bloomberg Government

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