And a new slip for Joe Biden, one. “I would like to thank the Prime Minister for Colombia’s leadership in the presidency of ASEAN,” the American president said on Saturday. Problem: Colombia is not a member of ASEAN. And the tenant of the White House was actually speaking in Phnom Penh, alongside the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen.
Colombia also seems to be on the mind of the American president, because he made the same mistake when he left Washington for a long trip to Asia. He told reporters he was ‘heading for Colombia’ [Colombia en anglais]before quickly correcting himself to say “I mean, Cambodia” [Cambodia].
A reputation to keep
Joe Biden, who turns 80 this month, has been known for his many blunders since the start of his career in Washington. This latest date is however less embarrassing than that of its vice-president, last September in South Korea.
Kamala Harris, during a visit to the demilitarized zone separating North Korea from South Korea, said that the United States had “an alliance with the Republic of North Korea. And it is an alliance that is strong and lasting”.