US eyes Quad support as it seeks to push back against China

AN INFORMAL grouping bringing together India, Australia and Japan with the US could be opened to other countries that support a “free and open Indo-Pacific region”, US deputy secretary of state Stephen Beigun said on Monday (12).

Washington has been pushing for closer collaboration among the members of the so-called Quad grouping as a bulwark against China’s growing regional influence.

“The Quad is a partnership driven by shared interests, not binding obligations, and is not intended to be an exclusive grouping,” Beigun said in remarks prepared for delivery at an India-US forum in Delhi, where he was beginning a three-day visit.

“Any country that seeks a free and open Indo-Pacific and is willing to take steps to ensure that, should be welcome to work with us.”

China has denounced the Quad as an attempt to contain its development and urged the US to drop its “Cold War mentality”.

Beigun is holding talks with Indian government leaders to lay the ground for an annual dialogue between the two countries’ top diplomats and defence leaders expected later this month.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and defence secretary Mark Esper will likely fly to Delhi for the “2 plus 2” dialogue with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, a government source in Delhi said.

Beigun said the US had no plans to impinge on India’s strategic autonomy, but to forge a relationship based on shared interests. “We want to explore how to empower them and India’s ability to defend its own sovereignty and democracy and to advance Indian interests,” he said.