NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the first-ever in-person summit of Quad leaders in US on September 24 along with President Joe Biden, Australia PM Scott Morrison and Japan PM Yoshihide Suga.
The meeting comes amid mounting global concerns over China’s growing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region.
At the meeting, the leaders are expected to review the progress made since their first virtual summit on March 12 this year and discuss regional issues of shared interest, according to a statement released by the government.
As part of their ongoing efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, they will also review the Quad vaccine initiative which was announced in March this year.
“They will also exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, climate change and education. The Summit would provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue and interactions among the Leaders, anchored in their shared vision of ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.
PM Modi had previously visited the US in September 2019 when former President Donald Trump hosted him for the grand ‘Howdy, Modi’ event.
This will be PM Modi’s second foreign visit this year after his two-day Bangladesh tour in March.
In March, President Biden had hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format.
At the meeting, the leaders vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending a subtle message to China.
In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.
Chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan
The Quad meeting will come after Biden’s image has taken a battering over the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
US officials have said ending America’s longest war will allow the administration to divert resources and attention to tackling China-related issues.
Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican, and former US ambassador to Japan, welcomed the plan to host the Quad leaders.
“Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal debacle made India’s neighborhood more dangerous & raises legitimate questions for Japan and Australia as well, so it’s good we will be hosting Quad partners soon,” he said on Twitter. “We must repair & renew our alliances, and this one is key.”
PM Modi to address UNGA
During his US visit, Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to address the general debate of the High-Level Segment of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25 in New York.
The theme for this year’s general debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from Covid-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations’.
(With inputs from agencies)
