President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever in-person summit of the leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, colloquially known as the “Quad,” on Sept. 24, during which the group hailed its efforts to improve the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific amid rising assertiveness by the Chinese regime in the region.
Senior Biden administration officials on Thursday announced that the group would be creating new working groups to tackle issues related to space and global supply chains security, as well as coordinating on vital cybersecurity projects.
“This convening of democratic partners who share a world view and have a common vision for the future is coming together to take on key challenges of our age,” Biden said during a press conference at the White House before the summit. “We are four major democracies with a long history of cooperation. We know how to get things done and we are up to the challenge.”
The summit came around a week after the United States, Australia, and Britain announced a new security alliance focused on the Indo-Pacific region that is widely seen as an effort to counter Beijing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India said the Quad “will play the role of a force for global good.”
The prime minister’s words came as the strengthening ties and increasing influence of the Quad caused tensions with Beijing, where mounting animosity from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has led to a series of disinformation campaigns designed to lower international confidence in the forum.
Countering CCP Threats
Senior Biden administration officials said on Sept. 23 that the Quad would establish a working group on space issues and a “very high-level group” to address specific capabilities and technologies designed to reinforce cyber resiliency against attack, possibly in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State.
Such efforts have become increasingly important for international security, analysts say, as the CCP attempts to reach nuclear parity with the United States, continues its development of anti-satellite weapons, and engages in acts of cyber espionage.
