Header Ads

ad

Biden kicks off his Cambodia summit by referring to the host prime minister as the head of 'COLOMBIA' after making him wait several minutes for a photo, then calls ASEAN nations meeting in Phnom Penh the 'heart of my Indo-Pacific strategy'

 President Joe Biden committed the first gaffe of his trip to Asia Saturday within the first seconds of his opening remarks, when he mistakenly referred to his Cambodian host as the head of Colombia.  


Biden spoke seconds after Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 37 years and is using the ASEAN summit as a showcase for his nation.   

I want to thank the prime minister of Colombia for his leadership as ASEAN chair,' Biden said at the top of his remarks, stumbling over the word and moving on without correcting it.  


Biden, 79, sounded subdued as he read his remarks from a script.

It was his first public speech of the event, after a marathon journey that consisted of two long-haul flights and a three-hour stopover in Egypt. Upon arrival, Biden went via motorcade to his luxury hotel. He was down for several hours, with his first stop in a hotel since departing Washington late Thursday night.  


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11420031/Biden-kicks-Cambodia-summit-referring-head-COLOMBIA-c.html