As President Biden heads to Japan for the G7 summit, the U.S. is facing a potential default due to a debt ceiling standoff with Republicans. The White House warned that a default would only embolden America’s adversaries, and Biden is tasked with reassuring his counterparts that he will find a way to avoid it. The president’s decision to head home early reinforces questions about American commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and leaves a vacuum that China may exploit. World leaders have become accustomed to the culture that dominates Washington, and while they understand the need to cut short the trip, they understand the consequences. It is up to Biden to show that the U.S. is a stable and reliable partner, and that it will not default on its debt.
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