US President Joe Biden is set to host the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21, as announced by the White House on Thursday. The summit will convene key global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This high-level meeting will focus on enhancing cooperation among the Quad nations, addressing pressing global and regional challenges, and reinforcing the strategic alliance’s commitment to ensuring stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
This summit will also mark the final gathering of the current leaders of the Quad alliance, as both President Biden and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are set to leave office. President Biden has recently announced that he will not seek re-election for a second term, while Prime Minister Kishida has declared his intention not to stand for re-election as the leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. This meeting will therefore symbolize a significant moment in the alliance’s history, with leadership transitions on the horizon.
What is Quad Summit ?
The Quad Summit refers to meetings held between the leaders of four countries: the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. These nations form a strategic alliance known as the “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” (Quad). The main focus of the Quad is to promote security, stability, and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in response to China’s growing influence in the area.
Key goals of the Quad include:
- Regional Security : Addressing challenges like maritime security, counter terrorism, and maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters.
- Economic Cooperation : Strengthening trade, technology, and infrastructure ties among member countries.
- Shared Democratic Values : Promoting democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law.
The Quad also tackles global issues like climate change, COVID-19 recovery, and supply chain resilience. It has evolved from a loose diplomatic dialogue into a more formal and strategic alliance, with regular summits and joint initiatives.
India is set to host the next Quad Leaders Summit
In July, the foreign ministers of the Quad nations convened in Tokyo for extensive discussions aimed at bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Sending a clear signal to China, they reiterated their commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing their resolve to promote a region free from coercion and dominance by any single nation.
During the talks, the ministers also unveiled plans to expand the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) program to cover the Indian Ocean. This move marks a significant step in enhancing the monitoring and security of the region’s strategically important waters.