During the final Group of 20 summit of his presidency, President Biden was notably absent from the traditional 'family photo' of world leaders. The President, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, arrived after the photo had been taken due to logistical issues, as confirmed by a senior Biden official.
The official clarified that the early timing of the photo session led to Biden and several other leaders missing the opportunity to participate, emphasizing that it was not a deliberate decision to avoid being pictured with certain leaders.
Chinese President Xi Jinping took center stage in the photo, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was positioned in the back row. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also did not join the group photo.
Notably, President Biden and other leaders from high-threat countries opted for a different red carpet route instead of the open ramp due to security concerns.
The G-20 summit serves as a platform for leaders from the world's largest economies to discuss strategies to combat hunger, poverty, and global conflicts. During the summit, President Biden urged increased investments in the World Bank, debt relief for struggling nations, and the resolution of conflicts contributing to starvation worldwide.
