Leadership meeting elevates Quad's importance

Significance

A February gathering of foreign ministers agreed to an annual leaders’ meeting but holding one so quickly underlines the importance that the Biden administration places on the Quad format to coordinate strategic thinking in the Indo-Pacific region.

Impacts

• More exercises are likely between the four Quad navies in South-east Asian waters.
• Despite rumours, an expansion of the Quad to include new members remains unlikely.
• The Quad mechanism will take on deeper significance within the ministries and agencies of members as its agenda expands.