Quad Summit to be Held in US: PM Modi to Visit Biden’s Hometown, India to Host in 2025
The Quad organization, formed to counter China in the Indian Ocean, will not hold its meeting in India this year. India has exchanged hosting duties with the U.S. Media reports suggest that India will host the Quad summit in 2025.
Initially, the Quad summit was scheduled to be held in India in January 2024. However, due to a lack of time on President Biden’s schedule, it was postponed to September.
Heads of state from the member countries attend the Quad summit, which is the organization’s most important meeting. The summit may be held on September 21 in the U.S., with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in attendance.
According to sources, holding the Quad summit in the U.S. gives Biden the opportunity to host his final summit as president. It’s expected that the winner of the U.S. election later this year, whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, will visit India for the Quad in the future.
Quad Summit to Take Place in Biden’s Hometown
The Quad summit will be held in Delaware, Biden’s home state. This will also be the last Quad summit for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as he is not running for elections next year. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi will not address the UN General Assembly this year. His speech, originally scheduled for September 26, will now be delivered by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on September 28.
Modi will participate in the Quad summit on September 21, followed by addressing the Indian community in New York on September 22. He will also attend the UN Summit for Future Programs on September 22-23.
India Wanted Quad Summit in New York, U.S. Declined
According to The Hindu, India had planned to hold the summit in New York. However, September 21 falls on a Saturday, and the U.S. president usually spends weekends at his home and beach in Delaware. Therefore, the U.S. decided to host the summit in Delaware instead.
Quad Summit Postponed in 2023 As Well
The 2023 Quad summit was held in Hiroshima, Japan. Initially, it was scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia. However, due to the debt ceiling crisis in the U.S., it was postponed at Biden’s request and later held alongside the G7 summit.
During the Hiroshima summit, PM Modi announced that the 2024 meeting would be held in India. All member state leaders were expected to visit India for the event. The chairmanship of the Quad rotates among member countries each year, with Japan holding it in 2023.
Why is Quad Important for India?
Strategically, the Quad aims to counter China’s economic and military rise, making this alliance crucial for India. Experts believe that given India’s long-standing border disputes with China, the Quad can offer support if China’s aggression intensifies at the border. Additionally, by enhancing its role in the Quad, India can help balance power in Asia by curbing China’s dominance.
China Continues to Oppose Quad Development
Since its formation in 2007, the Quad has faced obstacles in rapid development, primarily due to China’s strong opposition. Initially, India hesitated due to China’s disapproval, and Australia also withdrew from the Quad in 2010, though it later rejoined.
In 2017, India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan decided to revive the alliance to counter China. The first official negotiations of the Quad were held in the Philippines in 2017. At the first Quad summit in March 2021, a joint statement was issued committing to protecting the Indo-Pacific region from interference by any country, without directly naming China.
