Why the Quad Was Doomed From the Start

After failing to hold its leaders’ summit last year in India, the Quad—comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—will now meet at the foreign minister level during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the country from May 23 to 26. Meanwhile, the leaders’ summit scheduled for later this year in Australia remains uncertain. There’s a perceptible sense that the Quad is fading away.

Originally founded in 2007 to counter China, the Quad became moribund after Australia developed cold feet. When he was first sworn in as president in 2017, Donald Trump moved quickly to revive the grouping.

After failing to hold its leaders’ summit last year in India, the Quad—comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—will now meet at the foreign minister level during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the country from May 23 to 26. Meanwhile, the leaders’ summit scheduled for later this year in Australia remains uncertain. There’s a perceptible sense that the Quad is fading away.

Originally founded in 2007 to counter China, the Quad became moribund after Australia developed cold feet. When he was first sworn in as president in 2017, Donald Trump moved quickly to revive the grouping.