At the recent G20 summit in Rio, Donald Trump loomed large despite not being invited, with speculation about his impact on global politics. China’s President Xi Jinping engaged actively with leaders from the Global South, using the opportunity to bolster China’s image as a stabilizing superpower. As the U.S. undergoes a power shift with Biden currently in office, uncertainty reigns over international relations and trade policies, with concerns of a potential global trade war rising due to Trump’s previous stances. Xi’s charm offensive could benefit from these dynamics.