"Biden Takes Center Stage at G20, Forging Alliances and Shifting Dynamics"

President Joe Biden attended the G20 summit in New Delhi, where the leaders of China and Russia were notably absent. Biden aims to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region and increase pressure on Russia to end its conflict with Ukraine. The absence of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin allowed Biden to promote his foreign policy vision without competing for attention. Biden also unveiled an ambitious infrastructure initiative to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to provide funding to smaller nations and reduce their dependence on Beijing. However, the joint statement on Russia's invasion of Ukraine was less forceful than last year's, and Biden faced criticism for shaking hands with Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, despite the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.