Hope QUAD Will Continue Its Momentum Under India's Presidency, Says US

The Biden administration hopes that the four-nation grouping QUAD continues the momentum of its past three years under India’s presidency in 2024, the White House has said. This remark comes as the annual summit of the QUAD countries, which the US, Australia, India and Japan, is scheduled to be held in India this year.

However, the date of the summit is yet to be announced. “The president (Joe Biden) is incredibly proud of the progress QUAD has made over the past three years,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Wednesday.

Members of the QUAD held their first summit at the White House in March 2021. “The (QUAD’s) anniversary is coming up and we are hoping to continue that momentum in 2024, under India’s host year, as you just stated. And, we are talking about not just the United States, obviously, India, Japan and Australia,” Jean-Piere said in response to a question.

“We all have a shared vision here, of a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The QUAD is helping all of our nations deliver concrete benefits to the Indo-Pacific across a number of critical important sectors. So, we look forward to continuing that progress for the QUAD in 2024, and not just in 2024, but also beyond,” she said.

I2U2 grouping

White House Press Secretary was also asked a question about the status of I2U2, which has India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Jean-Pierre said the grouping remains critically important and President Biden is “deeply committed to making sure that we continue” with it. Asked if the grouping is now on the back-burner or no longer active because of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the official said, “No, not at all, still a priority”.

“The I2U2 remains critically important and the president is deeply committed to making sure that we continue with the I2U2, obviously with our partnership among our four countries and beyond through innovative, inclusive and science-based solutions to advance… let’s not forget, enhance food and energy security space operations and other ventures, advancing projects on water conservation, waste management and other areas,” Jean-Pierre said.

So, there is a strong future for the I2U2 and “we’re looking forward to continuing that partnership” and it has not taken on the back-burner, the White House official said. “It certainly continues to be a priority,” Jean-Pierre said. The I2U2’s first summit was held on July 14, 2022, to establish the group. This grouping identifies bankable projects and initiatives to tackle some of the biggest challenges confronting the world, with particular focus on joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space, health, food security, and technology.

It also aims to mobilise private sector capital and expertise to achieve a variety of goals, including modernising infrastructure, advancing low carbon development pathways, and improving public health. I2U2 partnership projects and initiatives are not limited in geographic scope – the group will explore opportunities anywhere it can make a positive impact, the State Department said.