The upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit will take place in Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by President Joe Biden. This change in venue from the originally scheduled Indian location reflects collaborative diplomacy, as Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained during a recent briefing in New Delhi. “At the request of the US side, we agreed to exchange it, given that the Prime Minister was going to be in the United States,” Misri noted, confirming that India will host the next summit in 2025.
The summit promises a comprehensive agenda focused on pressing regional and global challenges. Misri highlighted the Quad’s commitment to “development priorities in the Indo-Pacific,” emphasizing areas such as health security, climate change, and counter-terrorism. He stated, “Our agenda continues to work on implementing Sustainable Development Goals and delivering public goods.”
A key highlight will be the Cancer Moonshot initiative, aimed at combating cancer across the Indo-Pacific. This initiative will explore innovative strategies for prevention, detection, and treatment. Misri remarked, “We intend to collaborate in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region,” marking a significant health-focused agenda for the Quad.
The summit also serves as a pivotal moment for leaders, particularly for President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as it represents a farewell of sorts. The event will allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express gratitude for their contributions to strengthening the Quad partnership, underscoring the importance of their leadership in enhancing regional cooperation.
On the bilateral front, Modi and Biden will engage in substantive discussions to review their “comprehensive global strategic partnership,” which encompasses over 50 bilateral dialogue mechanisms. Misri emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating that it covers “almost every aspect of human endeavor.” He also acknowledged Biden’s role in advancing the India-US relationship, especially through initiatives like the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies.
The leaders are expected to sign several agreements, including those related to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and an India-US Drug Framework Memorandum of Understanding. A bilateral fact sheet will detail these agreements, further solidifying the ongoing commitment between the nations.
In addition to the main summit activities, there will be bilateral meetings with the leaders of Japan and Australia, further reinforcing the Quad’s collaborative spirit. As Misri concluded, the summit offers a timely opportunity to review past progress and set an agenda for future cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.