The Quad is a force for global good, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the first historic in-person summit of the leaders of Australia, India, US and Japan, since the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga on Friday pledged to work together for ensuring peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and the world, as top leaders of the Quad grouping announced a slew of new initiatives to take on common challenges, amidst muscle flexing by an assertive China in the strategic region.
Modi thanked United States President Joe Biden for the in-person summit of the grouping, and said the four nations first came together in 2004 to help the Indo-Pacific region in the aftermath of the Tsunami. “Now, that the world is combating the Covid-19 pandemic, we are meeting again under the Quad for the betterment of humanity,” he said in Hindi. PM Modi said that Indians’ contribution to the Quad will ensure peace in the world and Indo-Pacific region. Modi was the first leader invited by host President Joe Biden to address the first in-person Quad gathering in the East Room of the White House. Biden, who earlier in the day had a more than an-hour long meeting with Modi, described the prime minister as “My Friend.” Opening the summit, President Biden said the four democracies have come together to take on common challenges from Covid to climate. PM Modi also spoke about the Quad members’ Covid vaccine roll out initiative. Signalling further strengthening of the grouping, Modi said with the sorted democratic values of the four nations, the Quad had decided to move ahead with a positive mindset and approach.
India’s delegation for the Quad leaders’ summit headed by PM Narendra Modi also includes External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
