President Joe Biden hosted what may be his final Quad summit on Saturday, reportedly bringing together leaders from Australia, India, and Japan near his hometown of Delaware, according to Reuters.
Biden hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at his beloved alma mater Archmere Academy for a strategic dialogue on world issues that has been a cornerstone of his foreign policy.
This summit saw the expansion of joint security measures in Asia’s trade-rich waters, a response to growing concerns about China’s assertive behavior in the region. As Biden prepares to leave office after the upcoming presidential election, he is reportedly keen to cement the group’s legacy and ensure its continuity beyond his tenure.
“It will survive way beyond November,” Biden told the leaders, grasping Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shoulder for emphasis, according to the Associated Press.
Reuters reports that the summit’s most significant outcome was the announcement of joint coast guard operations scheduled for next year.
This move will reportedly see Australian, Japanese, and Indian personnel serving aboard U.S. Coast Guard vessels, a clear sign of deepening military cooperation among the Quad nations. Officials did not comment on where these coast guard activities would take place.
In addition to the coast guard initiative, the leaders reportedly pledged to expand the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, a program launched two years ago. These measures, while not explicitly targeting any nation, reportedly sends a message to Beijing about the Quad’s commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The summit’s joint statement, while carefully avoiding direct mention of China, condemned “coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea.”
Biden, in remarks carried on an official event feed, shared his assessment of Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s strategy, according to reports. “We believe Xi Jinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges and minimize the turbulence in China’s diplomatic relationships,” Biden said. He added that Xi is also seeking “to buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China’s interests.”
The Quad’s focus on maritime security represents a shift from its initial emphasis on economic cooperation and pandemic response. This evolution reportedly reflects the growing unease among member nations about China’s intentions in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait.
The summit also addressed other regional concerns, including North Korea’s ballistic missile program and cybersecurity threats. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing critical technologies to Pacific Island nations and Southeast Asian countries, areas where China has been expanding its influence.
Australian Prime Minister Albanese reportedly called the Quad’s coast guard plan “very important,” emphasizing the benefits of improved interoperability among the four nations’ maritime forces, according to Reuters. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, who is set to step down after an upcoming leadership contest, shared his appreciation for the meeting, reportedly calling it a fitting final visit as prime minister.
The Quad’s elevation to leader-level summits under Biden’s administration marks a significant achievement in U.S. foreign policy.
Newsweek contacted Biden’s spokesperson via email on Saturday for additional comment.