On Thursday, US President Joe Biden begins an Asian tour that will lead him to India to participate in the G20 summit, which appears relatively weak in the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping in particular, after which he will head to Vietnam.

The visit of the 80-year-old American president comes at a defining moment in the game of alliances against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, and at a time when China is rising in influence and increasingly challenging the American superpower.

Biden is scheduled to leave the White House at around 20:45 pm GMT, to head to the American base in Ramstein in Germany, before moving to New Delhi on Friday.

And the US presidency refused to disclose how to amend its program, in the event that it was confirmed that it had Covid-19, after the first lady contracted the disease on Monday with mild symptoms.

In the context, the White House reported that Biden underwent several tests this week, all of which were negative.

The US president will take center stage at the G-20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday, in the absence of the two leaders, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Biden intends to use the summit, chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to prove that the bloc remains the main forum for global economic cooperation, despite its divisions.

This is a way to send a message to Beijing and to emerging rival alliances, including the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) alliance.

Joe Biden announced last week that he was "disappointed" that President Xi would miss the summit, where he will be represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang.

For his part, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that Biden will discuss "a series of joint efforts to address global problems," including climate change and "mitigating the economic and social consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine" affecting the poorest countries.

"He is committed to working with partners in emerging markets to achieve great things together. And that is what the world will see in New Delhi this weekend," Sullivan added.

It will also call for strengthening the financing capabilities of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Biden's program, upon his arrival in New Delhi on Friday, includes a bilateral meeting with the Indian Prime Minister, whom the US President received with great hospitality in June at the White House.

The United States is working to strengthen its relations with India to stand up to China at a time when New Delhi seeks to establish a leading international role.

This comes despite their differences over Russia, as India did not abide by the sanctions imposed on Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine, and their differences over respect for human rights.

"If the United States begins to advance the cause of rights and democracy, it will jeopardize a very important relationship that the United States cannot afford to lose," said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Wilson Center in Washington.

On the other hand, Joe Biden will go to Vietnam on Sunday to meet the leader of the Communist Party that holds power in the country, Nguyen Phu Trong, in addition to other leaders, with the aim of confronting China's influence in the region as well.

Relations between the United States and Vietnam have strengthened in recent years, including in the military and economic spheres, as the two countries have largely reconciled despite the scars of war.

The US President's visit comes as part of a comprehensive diplomatic offensive targeting Asian countries, whether or not they are traditional allies of the United States.

Joe Biden had recently received the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of South Korea at an unprecedented summit.