President Joe Biden is set to make history as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Brazilian Amazon, a move that underscores his administration's commitment to environmental protection. This visit, scheduled for later this month, comes at a critical time as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, potentially signaling a significant shift in U.S. climate policy.

Biden's visit to Manaus, a key city in the world's largest rainforest, is part of his South American tour from November 14 to 19. The trip aims to engage with local and indigenous leaders on preserving the Amazon, a crucial ecosystem in the fight against climate change. This visit aligns with Biden's promise to support Brazil's Amazon Fund, contrasting sharply with Trump's climate skepticism and his plans to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, shares Biden's environmental priorities. The two leaders are expected to discuss strategies for environmental protection, highlighting a stark contrast to the policies anticipated under Trump's administration, which are seen as more aligned with those of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Biden's visit also precedes a G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, where he will meet with Lula to further discuss climate initiatives. This engagement is part of a broader effort to maintain international cooperation on climate issues, even as the U.S. faces potential policy reversals under Trump.

The visit to the Amazon follows a similar trip by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year, emphasizing the global importance of the region in climate discussions. As Brazil prepares to host the COP30 climate summit in Belem next year, Biden's visit is a symbolic gesture of continued U.S. involvement in global climate efforts, despite the impending changes in U.S. leadership.