Key Quad Diplomats Set To Meet In Washington After Trump’s Inauguration

US Secretary of State, Foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan to meet in Washington on Tuesday, a day after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, sources confirmed. This is the first big diplomatic event of the Trump presidency and is likely to further cement the “Quad” alliance aimed at marshaling to counter China’s growing clout in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting comes in the face of strong signals of continuity for the Quad, a partnership formed between the US, Australia, India, and Japan, in response to their shared concerns with China’s dominance in the region. On Monday, Trump would be formally taking the oath as president for the second term while the foreign ministers, including Australian Penny Wong, Japanese Takeshi Iwaya, and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India, are due to attend the inauguration ceremony.

The fact that this meeting will fall at this time may not truly produce much in terms of fresh initiatives, but it will emphasize the continued relevance of the Quad and the US commitment to security and economic stability in the region. Most analysts have expected that the meeting will mainly revolve around consolidating the ties among members, reviewing the progress made so far, and discussing future cooperation in areas like technology and green energy.

The ministers will also meet bilaterally with Rubio, who is expected to be confirmed as Trump’s secretary of state on Monday. The meeting will likely touch on the still unclear position of Trump on key regional projects, such as the AUKUS defense deal, as concerns regarding defense and economic cooperation remain ongoing, especially with rising tensions with China.

While the Quad ministers will focus on cooperation, they are also looking to dispel fears of a more isolationist approach under Trump’s second term.