Washington, USA – The foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan are expected to convene with the U.S. Secretary of State in Washington on Tuesday, just a day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term, sources familiar with the matter said.
This high-profile meeting marks the first major diplomatic event of the Trump administration’s second term and underscores continuity in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a strategic grouping aimed at addressing shared concerns about China’s rising influence.
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Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar are also expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who is likely to be confirmed as Secretary of State on the same day, will join the Quad meeting, according to sources.
Signal of Continuity Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges
Experts view the timing of the Quad meeting as a significant signal of the grouping’s commitment to fostering Indo-Pacific collaboration. “What they’re going to be doing is getting to know each other, reviewing where the Quad stands, signaling continuity, and beginning to outline ideas for future cooperation,” said Charles Edel, an Indo-Pacific expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
While new initiatives are unlikely, the meeting reinforces the Quad’s position as a counterbalance to China’s growing regional dominance. Analysts emphasize that the grouping promotes Indo-Pacific democracies as an attractive alternative to China’s influence, despite Beijing’s portrayal of the Quad as an anti-China alliance.
Bilateral Engagements on the Agenda
The ministers are also expected to hold bilateral discussions with Rubio. Topics include the future of the AUKUS defense pact for Australia, which Wong is keen to see progress, and Japan’s economic and national security contributions to the U.S., highlighted by Iwaya.
India is set to focus on enhancing cooperation in technology and green energy, emphasizing that the Quad is neither an anti-China coalition nor akin to NATO, as China frequently suggests.
Trump-Xi Dialogue Sets the Stage
President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Friday, discussing trade, fentanyl, and TikTok. Trump expressed optimism about resolving issues, while Xi conveyed hopes for a positive start to the administration’s second term, according to Chinese media.
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Rubio stressed the need for the U.S. to confront Beijing’s influence and reduce dependence on China.
Reassuring Allies of U.S. Commitment
John Lee, a former Australian official now with the Hudson Institute, noted that the Quad meeting offers an opportunity for allies to ensure the U.S. remains committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. “This is a chance for the other members to confirm that the second Trump administration views the Quad as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific strategy,” he said.
The Quad meeting, though unlikely to deliver major breakthroughs, is set to reaffirm the group’s shared vision and reinforce its role in shaping regional dynamics.
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