Quad expands maritime security cooperation at Biden's farewell summit
Leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States expanded joint security steps in Asia's trade-rich waters as outgoing US President Joe Biden hosted counterparts from the Quad grouping established due to shared concerns about China.
At the summit, held near Biden’s hometown in Delaware, the US President emphasized the importance of the Quad, which he regards as a key foreign policy achievement. He hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Biden will be stepping down following the US presidential election on November 5.
Key developments from the meeting include an announcement of joint coast guard operations set for next year, involving Australian, Japanese, and Indian personnel aboard a US Coast Guard vessel. Plans were also revealed for increased military logistics cooperation among the Quad members.
The leaders discussed expanding the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, launched two years ago, to further enhance monitoring of the region’s waters.
While the White House clarified that the summit was not targeted at any specific country, Biden began the group discussions with a briefing on China. In a joint statement, the Quad leaders denounced 'coercive and intimidating maneuvers' in the South China Sea, without directly naming China.
Analysts said new maritime security initiatives would send a message to Beijing and represent a further shift of emphasis of the Quad's activities to security issues, reflecting growing concerns about China's intentions.
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