New Delhi
CNN
 — 

President Joe Biden arrived in India on Friday for a two-day summit at a second of division among the many world’s main economies.

Biden isn’t aiming to paper over the fractures throughout his time in New Delhi. But with a watch towards countering China, he does hope to persuade a splintered world the United States stays a dedicated and worthwhile associate.

He arrives as polling within the United States exhibits sturdy headwinds in his bid for reelection; a CNN survey launched the day of his departure confirmed two-thirds of Democrat-leaning voters don’t need Biden because the 2024 nominee.

Biden’s advisers consider his actions on the worldwide stage may help present a distinction with Republicans, and his marketing campaign launched a tv advert Thursday highlighting his go to to Ukraine earlier this yr.

But Biden’s shaky political standing has nonetheless left fellow leaders, notably in Europe, questioning what the subsequent yr will portend and whether or not Biden’s pledges of a strong US position on the planet will probably be sustained.

In New Delhi, Biden is hoping to make the argument that the United States can act as a greater associate for growing nations than China. He has an surprising opening to make his case: Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping this weekend’s summit, his first time lacking a G20 since taking workplace in 2012.

While that could be a misplaced alternative in some methods – Biden and Xi met for hours ultimately yr’s G20 in Bali – it additionally frees the stage for the US to make its argument for American partnerships.

At a second when the very fragile state of China’s economic system is inflicting deep concern about international ripple results, Biden hopes to make use of the relative energy of the American market to make his pitch.

He isn’t arriving empty handed. He comes armed with proposals to reform and step up investments within the World Bank, leveraging US funds to liberate a whole lot of billions of {dollars} in new grants and loans for the growing world.

The White House insists the steps usually are not about countering Beijing.

“It’s not just a question of responding to China, it’s a question of addressing long standing global challenges, reducing poverty,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen mentioned at a morning briefing in New Delhi.

Still, the White House has argued establishments just like the World Bank can present an alternative choice to what they are saying are China’s coercive lending practices.

Ahead of Biden’s arrival, officers had been hurriedly working to draft joint declarations that could possibly be signed off on by the summit’s finish. But the talks have been troublesome, in line with diplomats, and mirrored the large divides throughout the G20 over probably the most contentious international points.

“So, I understand that this is challenging to craft such language, but I know the negotiators are discussing it, and working hard to do so and we stand ready certainly to work with India to try to craft a communique that successfully addresses this concern,” Yellen advised reporters.

While Biden has been profitable in rallying help within the West for Ukraine, he hasn’t essentially been as persuasive amongst leaders within the so-called Global South, together with India, Brazil and South Africa.

Failure to agree on shared language may show a serious disappointment for the host of this yr’s summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has labored to middle the discussions right here on the growing world but in addition bolster his stature as international statesman.

Modi’s face has been plastered round New Delhi welcoming delegates to the G20 and asserting the theme: “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

Biden’s first order of enterprise upon arriving will probably be a one-on-one with Modi at his residence. Biden has sought to totally embrace India as one of the crucial essential partnerships for the US within the twenty first century and a key regional ally to counter China.

The White House nonetheless harbors deep issues about Modi’s file on human rights and what many view as democratic backsliding in India, together with restrictions on the press.

As Biden was flying to New Delhi, officers aboard Air Force One mentioned India had rebuffed US requests for any press entry to the 2 leaders’ assembly.