The upcoming Quad Summit in Delaware will highlight that the four-nation group is more strategically aligned and relevant than ever, according to the White House.
The QUAD, consisting of Australia, Japan, India, and the US, was an initiative launched by President Joe Biden. Within the first 100 days of his presidency, Biden organized a virtual leadership summit with these countries in 2020. Since then, the Quad leaders have been holding annual summits on a rotational basis.
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Director John Kirby told reporters at a Wednesday news conference, “We believe you’ll see… that the Quad is more strategically aligned and more relevant than ever before.”
Kirby’s remarks were made ahead of President Biden hosting the other Quad leaders from Australia, India, and Japan in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday.
Originally, India was scheduled to host the Quad Summit this year. However, following a request from Washington, India agreed to host the summit next year.
Biden will now host the fourth ‘Quad Leaders Summit’ in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21.
This marks the first time the US has hosted foreign leaders in Wilmington, Biden’s hometown. Kirby noted, “And he’s very excited about that, about showing them a place and a community that shapes so much of the public servant and the leader that he became. It’s also a reflection of his belief that like politics, foreign policy is also personal.”
In addition to the plenary, Biden will hold individual meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Over the past three years, Biden has made it a priority to strengthen America’s alliances and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. “So think about AUKUS, for instance, or the trilateral Camp David summit with Japan and South Korea or the first-ever US-Japan-Philippines Leaders’ Summit in April,” Kirby added.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled for a three-day visit to the US starting September 21 to attend the annual Quad Summit and address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the UN General Assembly. During his visit, Modi will also address the Indian community in New York on September 22.
