The White House has recently declared that there are no current plans to add any new members to the Quad group. The Quad group is an action group of four countries – the US, India, Japan and Australia – made in 2017 to keep the Indo-Pacific region secure and free from any external influence. The quad will focus on developing its current strength, and has welcomed the opportunities of working with other Indo-Pacific partners on topics such as maritime security, infrastructure, and climate change.
On the 24th of May 2021, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to meet in Sydney, Australia for the third in-person summit. The meeting is expected to discuss the potential of the Quad group to push for a better economic policy for the Indo-Pacific region against China’s aggressive strategy on trade.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had something to say regarding the issue: “The Quad was established two years ago. The Quad is still a relatively young partnership. There are no plans for new members at this time”. According to her, the current priority the quad has is to ensure they are able to deliver in the Indo- Pacific region.
During the 2nd in-person summit, led by President Biden in Tokyo, the ambitious Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was created. This was meant to deepen cooperation between countries like India and USA in areas such as supply-chain resilience, digital trade and clean energy. Moreover, the first ever virtual summit of the Quad leaders was held in March 2021 and followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September.
IBM, one of the world’s leading technology companies, has reportedly put a freeze on its hiring procedures in order to replace about 7,800 jobs with Artificial Intelligence. This is further evidence of jobs soon to be run by technology, creating a worrying future for many people.
Long-time American economist, Janet Yellen, is growing concerned about the state of the United States and its crumbling fiscal stability. Late last year, she warned that the US could run short on cash for bills by the beginning of June 2021, a warning which President Biden has already responded to by calling for an urgent meeting on the nation’s debt ceiling.
It is uncertain how these events will shape the future, yet hints of economic tension may prove harmful to the Indo-Pacific region. Despite this, the members of the Quad are endeavoring to provide security and stability to the region, and will now focus on cementing their own power before taking steps to expand their numbers.
