The scheduled Quad meeting, which was set to take place in Sydney, has been cancelled as a result of US President Joe Bidens decision to cancel his travel to Australia due to domestic issues. Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, first expressed optimism that the meeting may take place with a top US delegate. However, he later verified that the event had been cancelled. Instead, the leaders of Japan, India, the United States, and Australia will meet this weekend on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. While an exact meeting time for the Japan event has yet to be determined, Albanese stressed the need to hold conversations at the leadership level, recognising the Quad as an important alliance.Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia (Image: Twitter)Why is the last-minute pull-out by the US crucialBidens trip to Australia was eagerly anticipated, with plans for a historic stop in Papua New Guinea as well as an address to Australias parliament. Albanese will now meet with Biden in Japan and has been invited to a state visit to the United States later this year. The rescheduling of Bidens Australian trip remains questionable due to continuing debt-ceiling negotiations with the Republican-dominated US Congress. This postponement comes at a vital time in the United States involvement with the Pacific region, as the visit is planned to reinforce the USs increased interest in the Indo-Pacific and address regional concerns about the Aukus accord.Meetings with other Quad leadersDuring a radio interview on the postponement, Albanese emphasised Bidens dedication to the Quad alliance. He emphasised Bidens dissatisfaction with some acts taken by members of the US Congress and Senate, highlighting the existing impediment to adopting necessary legislation. Despite these internal problems, Albanese indicated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Australia for a bilateral meeting as well as a public speech in Sydney. However, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is unlikely to be able to visit Australia as scheduled. While Kishida visited Perth in late 2022, Albanese will attend Kishidas G7 summit this weekend.Image: TwitterWhat is Quad, and why is it importantThe Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, was established in reaction to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and its first official conference was held in 2007. It dissolved in 2008, but the reasons for its demise are debated. Some blame it on the Australian government under Kevin Rudd retreating to avoid upsetting China, while others blame it on the USs cautious stance. Image: www.pmc.gov.auThe Quad was revived at the Asean cabinet level in 2017 and has since hosted multiple meetings, including summits for defence personnel. It was essential in creating the concept of the “Indo-Pacific” as a geopolitical zone encompassing the linkages between the states located between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
