Canberra, Australia: The U.S. Secretary of State, along with the foreign ministers from Australia, India, and Japan, will meet in Washington on January 21, one day after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. This will be the first major diplomatic engagement of Trump’s presidency, reaffirming the Quad group’s continuity amidst shared concerns over China’s growing influence.

The meeting aims to signal that democracies in the Indo-Pacific are committed to counterbalancing China, despite no new initiatives expected. Ministers will focus on strengthening the Quad and exploring its future direction. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Indian Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will attend, with one-on-one talks with Senator Marco Rubio, likely to be confirmed as Secretary of State.

Wong is expected to seek clarity on the AUKUS defense pact, Iwaya will emphasize Japan’s contributions to U.S. security, and India will discuss enhancing cooperation in technology and green energy. The Quad’s role as a non-anti-China alliance will also be highlighted. The meeting is viewed as a crucial moment for the Quad members to ensure the U.S. remains committed to the region despite Trump’s focus on China.