The partnership is a key component in the U.S. strategy to counter communist Chinaโs influence in the Indo-Pacific.
WASHINGTONโNewly sworn-in U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent his first day on the job engaging with his peers from Australia, India, and Japanโa grouping of four that share concerns about the growing challenges from communist China.
The partnership, known as the Quad or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, has been around for nearly two decades. It has played an increasingly visible role in countering Beijingโs influence in the Indo-Pacific region, pushing back on the regimeโs territorial claims in the South China Sea and pledging to advance cybersecurity cooperation to secure critical infrastructure and supply chains.
The four countries put out a short joint statement the evening of Jan. 21 reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific โwhere the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.โ
โOur four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific,โ the statement read. โWe also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.โ
The Quad said its focus includes โregional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains.โ
The members said they will meet on a regular basis in the coming months while preparing for the next Quad Leadersโ Summit hosted by India.
The three countriesโ foreign ministers, who Rubio met separately, met over the weekend before attending President Donald Trumpโs inauguration.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed appreciation for her invitation to the inauguration ceremony.
โItโs a demonstration of the collective commitment of all countries to the Quad, an iron-clad commitment in this time where close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific is so important,โ she said on Jan. 19.
Rubio, who the Senate confirmed on Jan. 20 in a 99-0 vote, hosted the meeting shortly after greeting hundreds of State Department employees at the agencyโs entrance hall.
Byย Eva Fu