Quad foreign ministers convene in Washington, highlighting Trump’s emphasis on China

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that a meeting in Washington with his counterparts from Australia, India, and Japan on Tuesday will emphasize the significance of collaborating with allies on issues vital to the United States and its citizens.

Rubio, who took the oath of office the day after President Donald Trump commenced his second term, will host the “Quad”—a coalition of four nations concerned about China’s expanding influence—at the State Department on Tuesday afternoon.

Analysts suggest that this meeting aims to convey that addressing the challenges posed by Beijing is a primary focus for the new administration, despite Trump’s unexpected decision to delay imposing tariffs on China on his first day back in office and his failure to label it as a threat, which raises the possibility of improved relations between the two nations.

“Today, we will convene with the Quad, including foreign ministers from Australia, India, and Japan, to reaffirm the importance of global collaboration with allies on matters that are crucial to America and its people, which is my priority moving forward,” Rubio stated during an interview on NBC’s Today program prior to his swearing-in.

Officials from the Trump administration are also working to arrange another meeting of the foreign ministers at the White House, according to a source involved in the planning. These discussions could pave the way for an early summit of the Quad leaders during Trump’s presidency, with reports indicating a potential meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Washington next month.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met with her Indian and Japanese counterparts in Washington over the weekend, emphasized that the invitation extended to Quad foreign ministers for Trump’s inauguration reflects a strong commitment to collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. “This illustrates the unified dedication of all nations involved in the Quad, highlighting the critical importance of close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific at this time,” Wong stated on Sunday.

Senator Rubio is scheduled to hold separate discussions with the three foreign ministers on Tuesday.

During the tenure of former President Joe Biden, the Quad grouping convened multiple times, concentrating on China’s military and economic maneuvers in the Indo-Pacific, especially regarding the South China Sea, where U.S. allies have actively contested Beijing’s territorial assertions.

The alliance has also committed to enhancing cooperation in cybersecurity to safeguard supply chains and vital infrastructure, including undersea cables.

For Australia, obtaining assurances from Washington regarding the extensive AUKUS defense initiative, which aims to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines and advanced weaponry such as hypersonic missiles, will be crucial.

China has criticized the Quad as a relic of the Cold War and argues that the AUKUS partnership would exacerbate an arms race in the region.