US President Joe Biden hosted the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday, where he announced the launch of a new initiative for cooperation among the Coast Guards of the Quad nations—India, Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Biden, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, emphasized the growing strategic alignment of the Quad.
In his opening remarks ahead of the Quad Summit, Biden said, “We’re democracies who know how to get things done. That’s why, within the first days of my presidency, I reached out to each of you, each of your nations, to propose we elevate the Quad. Making it even more consequential. 4 years later, our four countries are more strategically aligned than ever before.”
In addition to bolstering maritime security, Biden unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at reinforcing the Indo-Pacific region. These include providing new maritime technologies to Quad partners to enhance monitoring of regional waters and expanding the Quad Fellowship to include students from Southeast Asia.
“Today, we’re announcing initiatives to deliver real, positive impacts for the Indo-Pacific—offering new maritime technologies to our partners, launching Coast Guard cooperation for the first time, and expanding educational opportunities through the Quad Fellowship,” Biden said. He reaffirmed the Quad’s enduring role, adding, “While challenges will come, the world will change, but the Quad is here to stay.”
He dismissed concerns over the Quad’s survival beyond the upcoming U.S. elections. When asked about the grouping’s future, Biden, gesturing toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responded, “Way beyond November,” while placing a hand on PM Modi’s shoulder.
With the U.S. Presidential Election scheduled for November 5, 2024, President Biden has opted not to run for re-election, with Vice President Kamala Harris now the Democratic nominee, facing off against former President Donald Trump, the Republican contender.
The initiative for Coast Guard collaboration is seen as a direct response to China’s increasing maritime assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea. A senior US official earlier revealed a plan to bolster coordination among the Coast Guards of the Quad nations. This collaboration includes a US Coast Guard vessel that will host personnel from Quad countries, including Japan, on a rotational basis to patrol the Indo-Pacific region.
The summit also marked a symbolic moment for both President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as it is expected to be their last Quad meeting before they leave office. This sixth edition of the Quad Leaders’ Summit continues efforts to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, a cornerstone of the Quad’s agenda.
The Quad Leaders’ Summits have evolved since the first virtual meeting in 2021, with the second held in Washington, DC, and subsequent meetings in Japan and now Delaware. This year’s summit aims to reinforce the shared vision of a prosperous, resilient Indo-Pacific.
(Inputs from ANI)