Biyon Sony Joseph
When the United States, India, Australia, and Japan embraced the Indo-Pacific concept over a decade ago, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) quickly became a central pillar of their foreign policies. It symbolized a shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based order in the region. Yet today, the grouping faces a period of deep uncertainty.
A more unilateral foreign policy under the Trump 2.0 administration, growing trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi, and reports that President Donald Trump may skip the Quad leaders’ summit later this year all raise questions about its future. Against this backdrop, it is worth examining where the Quad stands today and what lies ahead during and after the current U.S. administration.
The year began on a positive note. Just hours after Trump’s inauguration, the Quad foreign ministers met in Washington to discuss regional priorities, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The meeting signalled that the administration still saw value in the grouping and reaffirmed the need to counter China’s expanding influence.
In July 2025, another meeting took place in Washington, marking the tenth such ministerial dialogue. The foreign ministers announced the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at strengthening and diversifying supply chains, and reiterated the need for deeper cooperation on maritime security and other key areas.
However, as the Trump administration’s foreign policy direction becomes clearer, concerns about the Quad’s future are growing. The relationship between Washington and New Delhi has deteriorated sharply. The United States recently imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods and accused India of indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine through continued oil purchases. These tensions are testing one of the key bilateral relationships underpinning the Quad and risk weakening the grouping as a whole.
Some argue that Washington no longer shares the “Quad vision” that guided the group during the Biden years. Under former President Joe Biden, the Quad evolved into a more structured and proactive partnership, with regular summits and ministerial meetings. It sought not only to counter China but also to deliver public goods across the Indo-Pacific. These included cooperation on climate change, vaccine production, disaster relief, and infrastructure development. Such initiatives helped the Quad move beyond a purely strategic framework and demonstrated its relevance to regional partners.
No comments:
Post a Comment