Soon after the President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan will converge in Washington for an important diplomatic meeting with U.S. Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio. Scheduled for Tuesday, the meeting marks the first major diplomatic event of the Trump presidency and is expected to underscore the commitment of the “Quad” — the informal group comprising the United States, Australia, India, and Japan — to maintaining a stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The gathering, which comes just a day after Trump’s swearing-in, signals a continuation of U.S. foreign policy priorities in the region, particularly in light of China’s growing influence. While experts don’t expect the meeting to produce immediate new initiatives, it will send a strong signal of continuity in the Quad’s objectives. “What they’re going to be doing is getting to know each other, reviewing where the Quad is, signaling continuity, and beginning to sketch ideas of where they want to take the conversation,” said Charles Edel, a prominent Indo-Pacific expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will be among those attending the meeting, emphasizing the importance of the Australia-U.S. alliance. In her statement, she noted that the invitation to attend Trump’s inauguration highlighted the “steadfast alliance” between the two nations, describing the U.S. as Australia’s “most significant economic partner and most important strategic relationship.” Wong is expected to use the opportunity to seek assurances regarding the continuation of the AUKUS defense pact, a trilateral security arrangement between Australia, the U.S., and the United Kingdom, which has been pivotal in strengthening security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will also participate, with Iwaya planning to emphasize Japan’s critical role in U.S. economic and national security. India, on its part, is likely push for greater collaboration in emerging sectors such as technology and green energy, underscoring the Quad’s role in fostering regional innovation and sustainable growth.
Although the Quad nations aim to bolster diplomatic ties, the grouping is not intended as an anti-China alliance, as some critics have suggested. Indian officials have reiterated that the Quad focuses on creating positive alternatives for the region, particularly in technology and sustainable development, rather than targeting Beijing.
The meeting will also serve as an opportunity to address concerns over a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy under the second Trump administration. “The visit will allow the other Quad members to ensure that the Trump administration continues to see the Quad as one of the key arrangements to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Lee explained.
The discussions, which will also involve bilateral meetings with Rubio, are likely to focus on ways to further enhance the economic and security dimensions of the Quad. This includes joint efforts to address regional challenges and ensure that Indo-Pacific democracies offer a viable alternative to China’s growing influence.
For Penny Wong, the upcoming talks will be a critical opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to its close partnership with the U.S. and to discuss future pathways for the Quad, ensuring that cooperation between the four countries remains a cornerstone of regional peace and stability.
In a statement ahead of her visit Wong highlighted the enduring significance of the U.S.-Australia relationship and her anticipation of discussions with her Quad counterparts, stating, “We share an unwavering commitment to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
As the U.S. enters a new presidential term, the Quad ministers’ meeting in Washington will be a pivotal moment for reinforcing the strategic framework that has defined their collective approach to regional security and economic development.