Quad diplomats finalise first leaders’ summit in two years before Trump-Xi meeting

Diplomats from the Quad met in Atlanta on Saturday to finalize preparations for their upcoming summit in the Philippines. The meeting comes just weeks before US President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Shenzhen. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with his counterparts from India, Japan, and Australia, discussed the group's focus on a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

They expressed concerns over economic coercion and overcapacity in global supply chains, particularly in critical industries. The Quad, a grouping of four democracies, aims to counter China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region. While the statement did not specify a date for the summit, the group confirmed their intention to convene the Quad Leaders' Summit in Manila.

Rubio confirmed this during his visit to India earlier this month. The Philippines will host the Asean leaders' summit and other multilateral meetings from November 16 to 18. The planned Quad summit before the Trump-Xi talks is seen as a strategic move to strengthen Washington's position before engaging with Beijing. The previous Quad leaders' summit took place in September 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware, but India was set to host the event last year due to conflicts with US tariffs and visa restrictions.

The Quad has been working on initiatives such as the US$20 billion Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework to strengthen maritime and economic security. The administration has also undergone several changes in its Asia-Pacific strategy, including renaming the Indo-Pacific Command and cutting military drills.