'Not an anti-China coalition’: US clarifies Quad’s position amid regional tensions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the Quad is not an anti-China coalition, emphasizing that the grouping's concerns are directed at specific behaviors and actions rather than any particular country. The Quad, comprising the US, India, Australia, and Japan, is a cooperative arrangement with shared interests aimed at opposing certain actions.

Despite not naming the country he referred to, Rubio noted that the Quad's concerns repeatedly point to one nation. The Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation across supply chains, maritime security, and emerging technologies during a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. They announced over $85 million in technical and financial assistance to expand trusted artificial intelligence access in the Indo-Pacific and established the Quad AI Accelerator.

Concerning maritime security, the ministers stressed the protection of navigation rights in key straits under international law and opposed tolls on international shipping.