LIMA – Joe Biden gestured awkwardly at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the outgoing US president took his place at the back of the stage at yesterday’s photo op at the Asia Pacific Economic Leaders Cooperation (Apec) Summit.
Biden kept his counterparts waiting for five minutes as he staggered in to take the picture — the traditional culmination of the Summit.
It did not go unnoticed that the 81-year-old Biden was placed at the back between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Vietnam President Luong Cuong.
He then appeared to have a lighthearted exchange with Anwar.
Anwar bookended the right of the front row, standing beside South Korea president Yoon Suk-yeol. Peru’s treatment of Biden was in contrast with that of Chinese President Xi Jinping who stood beside host Peru President Dina Boluarte who stood front centre.
While world leaders often stand according to alphabetical order, the US has on most occasions been accorded the prime spot with Donald Trump given centre position beside Russian leader Vladimir Putin in 2017’s Apec in Vietnam.
Trump’s then vice-president Mike Pence was given similar honours when Papua New Guinea hosted in 2018.
Conservative media pointed out that the snub was to illustrate Biden’s lack of importance as the outgoing president and the US’ diminishing influence.
However the placements also indicate the importance of the respective countries to the host nation.
China has amped up its investment in the Latin American country with Xi inaugurating a US1.3 billion (RM5.8 billion) port on the sidelines of the Summit.
Malaysia meanwhile ended the Summit with a pledge of RM1.4 billion in export and making Peru a gateway for halal products into South America. – November 17, 2024