Trump’s Planned Quad Meeting Could Strengthen US-India Ties Ahead of China Talks, Experts Say

WASHINGTON–President Donald Trump’s plans to meet with leaders of the Quad during his upcoming Asia trip could provide an opportunity to improve relations with India while strengthening Washington’s diplomatic position ahead of discussions with China, according to former U.S. diplomats and foreign policy experts.

The proposed meeting would bring together the leaders of the United States, India, Japan and Australia, marking the first Quad leaders’ summit of Trump’s current administration.

Edgard Kagan, a former U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia and the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said the meeting could help address recent strains in relations between Washington and New Delhi.

Speaking during a news conference, Kagan noted that the absence of a Quad leaders’ meeting under the current administration had generated disappointment, particularly as tensions emerged between the United States and India.

He described the decision to convene the four leaders as an important step toward restoring momentum in the bilateral relationship.

Kagan also suggested that holding the Quad meeting before Trump’s visit to China would send a diplomatic message to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the strength of Washington’s relationships with major partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad, a strategic partnership involving four major democracies, has become an important platform for cooperation on regional security, economic resilience and other shared challenges.

Kagan noted that the grouping had continued to engage at the foreign minister level, including through a meeting in Atlanta, despite the lack of a summit involving national leaders.

He argued that consulting allies and strategic partners before engaging directly with Beijing would place Washington in a stronger negotiating position.

Trump’s broader Asia itinerary includes diplomatic engagements associated with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Experts said economic agreements and commercial partnerships were likely to feature prominently during the trip, although expectations for major breakthroughs in the President’s initial discussions with Xi remained limited.

Victor Cha, President of CSIS’s Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair, said the Trump administration was pursuing trade agreements during the Southeast Asian portion of the visit.

One potential initiative under consideration would encourage ASEAN member countries to adopt American artificial intelligence technology, with U.S. development assistance offered as an incentive.

Cha cautioned that it remained unclear whether Southeast Asian governments had agreed to participate in the proposed arrangement.

Gregory Poling, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at CSIS, said questions also remained about the scope and substance of Trump’s engagement with ASEAN as a regional organization.

Regarding the China portion of the trip, Kagan said signals from the White House suggested that Trump’s initial meeting with Xi during APEC would likely be limited in scope.

He characterized the anticipated encounter as largely a courtesy meeting rather than an opportunity for extensive negotiations.

Cha similarly indicated that the administration had sought to moderate expectations surrounding the initial discussions between the two leaders.

More substantial negotiations were expected to take place approximately three weeks later in Miami, he said.

Potential areas of discussion include trade arrangements, cooperation on artificial intelligence safety and concerns about China’s compliance with commitments involving exports of rare earth minerals.

Despite an existing trade truce between Washington and Beijing, economic tensions remain unresolved.

Kagan pointed to continuing American concerns about access to rare earth materials, which are essential for advanced manufacturing, electronics and defense technologies.

He noted that U.S. allies, particularly Japan, had also expressed concerns about Chinese export practices.

“China needs to follow through on its commitments,” Kagan said.

For India, the planned Quad meeting could provide an opportunity to reinforce its strategic partnership with Washington while demonstrating the continued importance of cooperation among the four Indo-Pacific democracies.

The discussions are expected to take place as the Trump administration balances efforts to strengthen regional alliances, expand American commercial interests and manage its complex economic relationship with China. (Source: IANS)