Quad members eye next Leaders' Summit in Sept

The members of the Quad are exploring the possibility of holding the next Leaders' Summit, which will be hosted by India, in September next year, people familiar with the matter said.

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI:

The gathering at next year's Quad Leaders' Summit will be different from that at the meet hosted in September by US President Joe Biden — the US and Japan have new leaders and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has seen his approval ratings dip ahead of the federal elections in 2025.

Among the factors responsible for the members of Quad looking at the possibility of holding the summit in the third quarter of 2025 are the general election in Australia, which is likely to be held in April or May, and the time needed for the Donald Trump administration in the US to settle down following the president's inauguration in January, the people from three members of the grouping added.

"The new US administration will most likely focus on domestic issues in its initial days before taking up foreign policy matters after it settles down. Besides, the second quarter — when the Indian summer is at its peak — is not really conducive to the holding of the summit," said a diplomat from a Quad member who asked not to be named.