United States President Joe Biden Hosts Quad Summit

United States President Joe Biden hosted a "Quad Summit" at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, over the weekend with the leaders of Australia, India, and Japan. The leaders announced joint coast guard operations next year that will include Australian, Japanese, and Indian personnel spending time on a US coast guard vessel. The countries also plan increased military logistics cooperation.

The leaders also planned to expand an Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness launched two years ago. While the White House said the Quad summit was directed at no other country and that Beijing should find no issue with the initiative, Biden started the summit's group session with a briefing on China. In a joint statement that did not name the Chinese government by name, the leaders condemned "coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea."

Analysts said new maritime security initiatives would send a message to Beijing and represent a further shift of emphasis of the Quad's activities to security issues, reflecting growing concerns about China's intentions. Chinese President Xi Jinping has objected to the Quad grouping as an effort to encircle Beijing and ramp up conflict.

The leaders' joint statement included sharp language about North Korea, condemning its ballistic missile launches and "malicious cyber activity." A US official said the leaders shared concern about Russian military assistance for North Korea.

The group is stepping up work to provide critical and security technologies, including a new open radio access network, to the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia, regions of intense competition with China. A health initiative by the leaders is aimed at combating cervical cancer.

Analysts and officials say Biden hosting the Quad is part of efforts to institutionalize the body ahead of his departure from office and that of Kishida, who is stepping down after a leadership contest next week, and elections in Australia by next year.

Before the summit, Albanese met with Biden at his home and discussed bilateral cooperation between the two close allies across defense and security, including in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad met at foreign minister level under the previous administration of Donald Trump, who is running against Vice President Kamala Harris in November, and enjoyed bipartisan support, as reflected by the formation of a congressional Quad Caucus ahead of the summit. Biden elevated the Quad to the leader level in 2021.