On September 12, 2024, the White House issued a statement announcing that President Joe Biden will host the fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit on Saturday, September 21. The meeting will take place in Wilmington, Delaware, and will bring together leaders from Australia, India, and Japan.
According to the statement, President Biden is looking forward to welcoming Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. This will mark the first time President Biden has hosted foreign leaders in Wilmington since taking office, with the White House highlighting the importance of the event by stating it reflects Biden’s “deep personal relationships with each of the Quad Leaders, and the importance of the Quad to all of our countries.”
The Quad, formally known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is an informal strategic forum involving the four countries, aimed at promoting stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. In recent years, it has gained significance due to shared concerns over regional security and economic issues, particularly with the rise of China as a dominant force in the Indo-Pacific.
The White House’s statement emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to elevate and institutionalize the Quad partnership. It pointed out that this process began with the first Quad Leaders Summit in 2021 at the White House and has continued with annual meetings since then. Over time, there has been a growing alignment among the four nations, and various levels of cooperation have taken place, from meetings of Quad Foreign Ministers to broader government coordination on strategic issues. The commitment to maintaining and strengthening the Quad has been positioned as a top priority for the administration, and President Biden has been active in pursuing deeper collaboration among the Quad members.
The upcoming summit on September 21 is expected to focus on enhancing the strategic alignment among the Quad nations while advancing their “shared vision” for a free and open Indo-Pacific. This vision is rooted in ensuring stability and security in the region, with the member countries working together to address common challenges.
Key areas expected to be discussed at the summit include health security, maritime security, natural disaster response, critical infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The Quad countries have consistently emphasized the importance of high-quality infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific, aiming to provide alternatives to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. These efforts also extend to climate change and clean energy initiatives, with the Quad nations increasingly coordinating their policies to address global environmental challenges.
Cybersecurity will also be a major point of discussion, as the Quad members aim to strengthen their defenses against growing cyber threats. In recent years, cyberattacks and data security concerns have become pressing issues, and the Quad countries have recognized the need to enhance their cooperation in this critical area. By working together, they hope to ensure a more secure digital infrastructure for the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to these practical concerns, the Quad summit is expected to further cement the alignment of these nations on broader geopolitical issues, including the rise of China as a major regional power. While the Quad is not explicitly defined as an anti-China alliance, the growing influence of Beijing in the Indo-Pacific has prompted Quad members to increase their focus on maintaining a free and open region, with an emphasis on sovereignty and international law.
The White House noted that this summit represents an important milestone for the Biden-Harris administration, particularly given the president’s personal commitment to advancing the Quad partnership. As the statement mentioned, the administration has placed significant emphasis on institutionalizing the Quad since the first Quad Leaders Summit in 2021, and this year’s gathering will continue to build on that progress. Regular meetings of Quad Foreign Ministers and coordination at various levels of government have further solidified the partnership, allowing the four countries to work together on key global and regional issues.
In terms of concrete outcomes, the summit is expected to deliver tangible benefits for the Indo-Pacific region in the areas of health security, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience. In particular, the Quad nations have been working to improve their joint response to natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Maritime security is another critical area where the Quad countries are likely to announce new initiatives, given the strategic importance of sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific for global trade and economic stability.
In recent years, the Indo-Pacific region has faced numerous security challenges, from territorial disputes in the South China Sea to increased military activity in the region. As a result, the Quad members have placed a strong emphasis on enhancing maritime security, with a focus on ensuring that international law is upheld and that regional tensions are managed in a peaceful and cooperative manner.
Looking ahead, the next Quad Summit will be hosted by India, marking another step in the continued evolution of this strategic partnership. India’s growing role in the Quad reflects its increasing influence in the region and its commitment to working with like-minded countries to promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
The Quad’s growing relevance in the region comes at a time when global power dynamics are shifting, and countries are seeking to navigate an increasingly complex international landscape. As the world’s largest democracies, the Quad members share common values and interests, making their collaboration essential for addressing the challenges of the 21st century.
The upcoming Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, will provide an opportunity for President Biden and the other leaders to reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, while also delivering concrete benefits in areas such as health security, climate change, and cybersecurity. As the Quad continues to evolve, it will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific region and addressing the global challenges of our time.