President Joe Biden is emphasizing his Indo-Pacific legacy as he hosts the leaders of Australia, Japan, and India in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. This gathering, held on Saturday, marks the culmination of his efforts to nurture and elevate the so-called Quad partnership during his presidency. With this summit potentially being the final Quad meeting under his leadership, Biden is looking to cement his influence on U.S. foreign policy and his focus on the Indo-Pacific.
When Biden took office, he aimed to revitalize the Quad, a coalition of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India. The group previously held meetings only at the foreign minister level. Biden sought to elevate this to leader-level meetings, aligning with his vision to pivot U.S. foreign policy away from the Middle East and toward addressing both the challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region. Since 2021, the Quad leaders have met in person four times, with Saturday’s summit being the sixth overall gathering of the group.
Biden added a personal touch to this event, hosting the leaders in his hometown and organizing a joint meeting and formal dinner at Archmere Academy, the high school he attended. The gathering comes ahead of the leaders’ appearances at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“You’ve heard the president say many times that all politics is personal, all diplomacy is personal,” stated Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser. He noted that Biden’s personal engagement with foreign leaders has been central to his approach to foreign policy. “Developing personal relationships has been core to his approach as president,” Sullivan continued, emphasizing that hosting the leaders of India, Japan, and Australia at his home demonstrates the value Biden places on these relationships.
Biden started the weekend by welcoming Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to his home, situated on a pond in a wooded area near downtown Wilmington. On Saturday, Biden hosted the Prime Ministers of Japan and India, Fumio Kishida and Narendra Modi, for talks before bringing all the leaders together at Archmere Academy.
Describing Biden’s meeting with Albanese, Sullivan said the two leaders spent time reflecting on their political careers and discussing broader global issues in an informal setting. He remarked that the meeting felt like “two guys — one at the other guy’s home — talking in broad strokes about where they see the state of the world.”
Although Biden has placed a significant emphasis on personal diplomacy, the meetings remained private. Reporters were not allowed to cover his individual conversations with the leaders, and unlike traditional international summits, Biden chose not to hold a press conference. This decision marked a departure from the usual practice of question-and-answer sessions at such events.
The summit was not just a symbolic gesture but also resulted in tangible outcomes. The leaders announced initiatives aimed at improving maritime security, focusing on increased coast guard cooperation across the Pacific and Indian oceans. These initiatives are intended to counterbalance China’s growing assertiveness in the region. Additionally, plans to improve cooperation on humanitarian response missions were outlined.
Discussions between Biden and Modi were expected to touch upon a range of topics, including Modi’s recent visits to Russia and Ukraine, as well as shared concerns regarding China. Modi stands out as a prominent leader of a nation that has maintained a neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sullivan noted that Biden planned to emphasize the importance of upholding “sovereignty and territorial integrity” and to encourage countries like India to take a stronger stance against supporting Russia’s war efforts. “Every country, everywhere, should refrain from supplying inputs to Russia’s war machine,” Sullivan asserted.
The meeting also presented an opportunity for Biden and Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida to reflect on their shared accomplishments before stepping away from office. Both leaders are nearing the end of their terms, with Biden’s tenure concluding in January 2025, and Kishida facing dwindling public support at home. One of the key achievements for both leaders has been the strengthening of security and economic ties between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, especially as North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program, and China becomes more assertive in the Pacific.
Biden praised Kishida for his efforts in improving relations with South Korea, a country with a long and complicated history with Japan. The improved cooperation between the two nations has been particularly significant given the escalating tensions in the Pacific. Biden commended Kishida’s “courage and conviction in strengthening ties” with South Korea, a key move in the current geopolitical landscape. During their conversation, they also addressed China’s “coercive and destabilizing activities” and discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and technological advancements.
Despite the strong relationship between the U.S. and Japan, the two countries are navigating a rare moment of tension. A proposed $15 billion bid by Japan’s Nippon Steel to acquire U.S. Steel, an American company, has faced opposition from Biden, as well as from U.S. political figures like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The deal has not yet received a formal assessment from the U.S. government, and the review may be delayed until after the upcoming November election.
Sullivan refuted speculation that the timing of the report could signal Biden’s wavering opposition to the deal. “There’s no change in the president’s position,” he said, stressing that the review process would move forward without political interference.
The summit leaders agreed to issue a joint statement that would contain the strongest language to date on China and North Korea, reaffirming their commitment to regional stability and security. This statement was anticipated to send a clear signal of unity among the Quad nations in response to the growing challenges posed by these two countries.
As the leaders gathered to discuss geopolitical issues, they also turned their attention to a cause close to Biden’s heart: cancer prevention. The summit featured a significant announcement related to Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative, a long-standing project aimed at reducing cancer mortality rates. Biden’s personal connection to this cause stems from the death of his son, Beau, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.
In a related announcement, the leaders unveiled a new collaboration focused on reducing cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. This initiative is part of Biden’s broader efforts to promote health and well-being across the globe.
As Biden’s presidency nears its end, the White House is also celebrating the creation of a bipartisan “Quad Caucus” in Congress. This group is designed to ensure that the Quad partnership remains strong, regardless of the outcome of the November election.
Biden’s efforts to solidify ties among the Quad nations have been central to his foreign policy vision, and the Wilmington summit underscores the importance of these relationships as the Indo-Pacific region continues to play a critical role in global security and economic stability.
