President Joe Biden is hosting the leaders of Australia, Japan, and India in Wilmington, Delaware, for a Quad summit focused on strengthening Indo-Pacific partnerships. This gathering marks the sixth meeting of the group since 2021, with four of these being in-person encounters.
The Quad, formally known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, was initiated in 2007 but experienced a revival in 2017 after a decade-long hiatus. Since taking office, Biden has sought to elevate the Quad from ministerial-level meetings to leader-level engagements, reflecting a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards the Indo-Pacific region.
Anthony Albanese, Narendra Modi, and Fumio Kishida, the Prime Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan respectively, have convened in Wilmington for discussions preceding their appearances at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The summit's agenda includes:
- Enhancing maritime security through increased coast guard collaboration
- Improving cooperation on humanitarian response missions
- Addressing regional challenges, particularly in relation to China and North Korea
- Discussing the Cancer Moonshot Initiative
The Quad has been actively engaged in various initiatives since its revival, including:
- Launching a vaccine partnership to combat COVID-19 in 2021
- Focusing on climate change, critical technologies, and cybersecurity
- Conducting joint military exercises, such as the Malabar naval exercises
- Implementing a maritime domain awareness initiative in 2022
While the Quad does not constitute a formal military alliance like NATO, it has been viewed by some, including China, as an "Asian NATO." However, the group's focus extends beyond security to encompass economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and technological collaboration.
The formation of a bipartisan "Quad Caucus" in the U.S. Congress underscores the partnership's potential longevity, regardless of future electoral outcomes. This development, along with the summit being held at Biden's alma mater, Archmere Academy, adds a personal and enduring touch to the proceedings.
As the Quad continues to evolve, it has addressed various regional concerns, including supply chain resilience, semiconductor production, and space cooperation. The group's efforts to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region remain central to its mission, with this summit serving as a potential capstone to Biden's first term engagement with the partnership.