The Quad grouping, consisting of India, the US, Japan, and Australia, is set to hold its third in-person summit on May 24 in Sydney, Australia. However, the White House has made it clear that there are no plans to add new members to the relatively young partnership, which was established just two years ago. The grouping has prioritised cementing its many strengths for now, with a focus on issues like maritime security, infrastructure, and climate change. While there are no conversations on extending or expanding the group at this time, the Quad remains open to opportunities to work with a wide range of Indo-Pacific partners.
The Quad was established in November 2017 with the aim of developing a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, amidst China's growing military presence in the strategic region. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, which has caused tension with Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, all of which claim parts of it. In response, India, the US, and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific.
During the 2nd in-person summit held in Tokyo last year, US President Joe Biden launched the ambitious Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation among like-minded countries in areas such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience, and digital trade. The rollout of the IPEF is expected to send a signal that the US is focused on pushing forward a strong economic policy for the region to counter China's aggressive strategy on trade in the region.
In March 2021, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that was followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September. The upcoming Sydney Summit will showcase other opportunities for the Quad to partner around the region on climate, global health, infrastructure, and more.
The Quad has agreed to prioritize ensuring it is well-positioned to deliver for the Indo-Pacific. With China's aggressive behavior in the strategically important region, the group's top priority is to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free and open, and that it can effectively address challenges in the region. For now, the Quad is focused on building its own strengths and working with Indo-Pacific partner countries to achieve its goals.
