President Joe Biden faces the challenge of reassuring international partners uncertain about the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy as Donald Trump, with his assertive “America First” agenda, prepares to assume the presidency again. As Biden heads to Peru and Brazil for key economic summits, he faces questions from leaders anxious about potential shifts in U.S. commitments to global cooperation on climate, trade, and security.
Biden’s itinerary includes two influential summits—the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima and the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Amid talks focused on trade and sustainable development, the president’s primary mission will be to strengthen alliances and reassure U.S. allies, who watched the U.S. pull out of pivotal international agreements during Trump’s first term.
The APEC summit, which unites 21 economies across the Asia-Pacific region, is set to emphasize free trade and economic cooperation. While Biden will highlight partnerships strengthened during his administration, especially with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, doubts about continuity loom large. At a trilateral meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Biden aims to underscore that recent strides in regional security and economic cooperation are lasting.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan previewed Biden’s strategy, stating the president intends to remind leaders that “America’s allies are vital to America’s national security.” He emphasized that Biden will make clear that these alliances “multiply our capability” and contribute to shared causes—positioning U.S. alliances in the Asia-Pacific as an enduring commitment, despite the impending administration change.
At APEC, Biden will also hold what is expected to be his final meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the two leaders grapple with deepening complexities in U.S.-China relations. With Trump already appointing prominent China critics to key positions, Biden’s dialogue with Xi is likely to focus on ensuring stable diplomatic channels as the U.S. potentially adopts a more adversarial stance. Trump’s previous administration saw tariffs, trade barriers, and military posturing become central to U.S.-China policy, and Biden’s more cooperative approach could face significant changes.
China, meanwhile, is positioning itself as a symbol of stability, with Xi promoting Beijing’s infrastructure investment across Latin America, a region critical to his vision of expanding Chinese influence. Xi is set to inaugurate a $1.3 billion megaport in Peru, showcasing China’s economic commitments to Latin American nations and reinforcing Beijing’s message of reliable leadership. Chinese state media emphasizes that Xi’s recent engagement in 11 Latin American countries contrasts with U.S. foreign policy shifts, signaling China’s intent to capitalize on perceived U.S. inconsistencies.
As Biden arrives in Rio, he plans to emphasize American leadership on global poverty, climate change, and labor rights. The G20, representing the world’s largest economies, offers a platform for Biden to advocate policies targeting shared global challenges. While in Brazil, he will endorse President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty initiative, aiming to accelerate efforts to end hunger by 2030.
However, many of Biden’s initiatives may have limited longevity under a Trump administration, particularly in areas like climate policy. Biden’s stop in Manaus—the first by a sitting U.S. president in the Brazilian Amazon—will include discussions with Indigenous leaders on rainforest conservation, underscoring his administration’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Yet, Trump’s previous skepticism toward international climate agreements casts doubt on the durability of Biden’s green agenda.
Biden’s farewell tour ultimately underscores the uncertainty facing U.S. allies, many of whom viewed his administration as a stabilizing counterbalance to the previous administration’s policies. As Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council notes, Biden is expected to reinforce that “American engagement around the world” is an enduring ideal. According to Lipsky, Biden believes that “not one election or one president can undercut” the U.S.’s global role.
While Biden’s message is intended to project confidence, analysts caution that, for many leaders, the reality is more complex. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggests that Biden’s counterparts are likely to respond with “lamenting, speculation, [and] guessing” as they try to anticipate Trump’s policy moves.
As he heads back to Washington, Biden leaves behind a mixed legacy of achievements and challenges, with a U.S. policy landscape on the brink of a significant shift. Amid Xi’s bids to expand Chinese influence in Latin America and a Trump administration poised to recalibrate U.S. priorities, Biden’s trip may serve as a final reminder to allies of the value of American diplomacy, even as questions about its future linger.
