US President Joe Biden to host first in-person leaders meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
US President Joe Biden will host the first in-person leaders meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) today.
The four Pacific nation security cooperation bloc is expected to discuss threats surrounding Afghanistan’s new Taliban government and China’s rising influence. The leaders are expected to better define the alliances’ objectives, including deepening ties in the Indo-Pacific region through increased investment and expanded vaccine diplomacy.
Recent developments such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the US-Australia submarine deal, look to counter the rising security threat posed by China. The QUAD, seen as a bulwark against expanding Chinese regional power, now seeks to move beyond hard power issues towards developing soft power through tech, vaccines, and climate change cooperation.
Expect QUAD leaders to announce a concrete action plan to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. Short-term, this will most likely involved an increased commitment from the US and India to raise vaccine exports. Medium- to long-term, the alliance will most likely focus on infrastructure investment, combatting climate change and sharing advanced technologies like 5G to prove to other regional nations the attractiveness of democracy over authoritarianism. Steps towards these goals would see expanded trade deals to other Pacific nations to secure supply chains and influence.
Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.
