This content was published on November 15, 2022 – 14:07
(AFP)
It could be the beach or the ambiance of a luxury hotel. The broad smile of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the bilateral meeting also plays a role, but one thing is clear: US President Joe Biden is enjoying his trip to Bali for the G-20 summit.
“I guess I’m not going home,” Biden joked during his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, referring to Paradise Beach in front of the hotel.
Later, at a press conference in a tropical garden, the first words of the US president to reporters were “Welcome to Bali.”
With a smile, the president seemed to discern the distances between Bali’s humid heat and the exquisitely luxurious décor, landscapes, and grueling atmosphere of the White House.
During the conference, television journalists dried their sweat with towels and prevented a chorus of crickets from hearing the sound of waterfalls in the garden.
– relaxed aura –
The veteran Democratic politician gave an aura of relaxation.
Just a week ago, Biden was preparing for a trip overshadowed by the prospect of a humiliating defeat in the midterm elections.
Alternatively, the president can be pleased that his party has retained control of the Senate and that Republicans have made less progress than expected in the House.
Biden maintained the same confident and relaxed demeanor in his meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.
Smiling, Biden walked up to the Chinese leader and shook hands. More than competitors, they looked like two old friends meeting in a tropical hotel.
However, within the G-20, Biden still has work to do for non-Western countries to increase pressure on Russia over the Ukraine issue.
On the home front, Biden will have to face the reality of a House of Representatives with a slight Republican majority upon his return to the United States.
Perhaps it is no coincidence that Donald Trump has scheduled an event on Tuesday in Florida where he can announce his candidacy for president in 2024. At that moment, which will already be Wednesday in Bali, Biden will be on Air Force One. back to Washington.
But for a few days, Biden can enjoy his victories and the beach.
“I think you’re all going to go swimming when you get out of here,” he joked to traveling reporters. “not far”.
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