Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the United States at the APEC summit in Bangkok in November, with US President Joe Biden returning to the White House after a diplomatic trip to attend his granddaughter’s wedding.
Joe Biden will travel to Egypt on November 11 for the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 and will then continue his diplomatic tour by traveling to Bali, Indonesia, after a stopover in Cambodia on November 13-16 to attend the G20 Summit 13 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
But he will not attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum Summit to be held in the Thai capital on Nov. 18-19, the White House said on Friday.
Kamala Harris will attend in his stead and then travel to the Philippines, a longtime Washington ally. “His visit will reaffirm and strengthen the alliance between the United States and the Philippines and underscore the extent of our working together as friends, partners and allies,” the White House said in a statement.
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Washington is hoping for good relations with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after a rough patch with his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. Ferdinand Marcos recently gave up buying military helicopters from Russia, preferring to strike a deal with the United States.
Naomi Biden, the president’s eldest granddaughter, announced earlier this year that she plans to get married at the White House on November 19 in what will be the 19th wedding ever at the president’s residence. U.S. executive branch, according to the White House Historical Association.
Asian diplomats and pundits greatly appreciate the presence of US presidents at these summits, seeing it as a testament to Washington’s stated commitment to the region at a time when China is trying to increase its influence.
Former US President Donald Trump also missed the last APEC summit in 2018 in Papua New Guinea, which was attended by Vice President Mike Pence.
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