Takeaways from the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit
On 21 September 2024, the leaders of the four Quad nations – Australia, India, Japan, and the US – convened in US President Joe Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.
The outcome of the meeting was the Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement – a lengthy vision statement affirming the Quad’s global relevance beyond the current era of leadership.
So, from its 6,000-odd words, what are the important takeaways?
The cast is changing
Of the four leaders, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only one guaranteed to still hold office in the next 12 months: both Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have chosen to step down; and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces an election by May.
The end of the Biden era is unchartered territory for Quad leadership – although the dialogue was revitalised in 2017, it was Biden who introduced the annual Leaders’ Summits. As the US election looms, so too does the unspoken question of a second Trump Presidency – a president whose disregard for multilateral institutions and traditional partnerships already has the region on its toes.
Consequently, the Wilmington Declaration is in part an effort to secure the Quad’s longevity. Though the leaders have assured the Quad is here to stay, how it functions will depend heavily on who’s at the table and how they conduct business.
The China-shaped gap
Since its inception, the Quad has worked tirelessly to shake the assertion that it was made to contain China, instead presenting as an impartial non-security arrangement.
But, when the Wilmington Declaration all but spells China out, this argument thins.
But, in almost 6,000 words, ‘China’ does not appear once.
The result is incidentally one of the Quad’s strongest, yet non-explicit condemnations of Chinese regional activity.
Biden’s hot mic moment only reinforced this. Moments after journalists were told to leave, the president was recorded saying that China is ‘testing us all across the region’ – making it clear in no uncertain terms that China has reserved a seat at the top of the Quad agenda.
A familiar, careful script
Much of this declaration follows a familiar script – affirming the four countries’ shared values, commitment to a rules-based international order, and respect for other regional institutions.
Though repeated in every statement, these sentiments are important for the Quad to function. They frame the grouping as a stable, unified arrangement; one that works with and for the region, and crucially not just for a side in broader great power competition.
This strategic messaging and internal logic explain the Quad’s focus on non-traditional security issues. In the Wilmington declaration, this includes humanitarian assistance, critical technologies, infrastructure, clean energy, cyber, and space, amongst others.
Of note is the Quad’s commitment to health security, which has expanded from a pandemic-era vaccine programs to the Quad’s ‘Cancer Moonshot’. The program, which aims to combat cervical cancer in the region, is an example of the Quad’s ‘positive, practical agenda’ that simultaneously reinforces its non-traditional security focus. In a diverse group, health security is an area where common ground can easily be found – one that also conveniently steers clear from regional geopolitics and anti-China accusations.
United Nations Security Council reform
Given its support for the rules-based international order, the Quad’s commitment to the United Nations and its institutions comes as no surprise. The Wilmington Declaration states explicitly the Quad’s intentions to push for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform to include African, Asian, Latin American, and Caribbean representation.
UNSC reform is by no means a new conversation. Underrepresented nations and regions have championed the call for decades. But consensus on what a reformed UNSC might looks like continues to prove near impossible.
So, if it’s so difficult, why is the Quad so committed?
First, UNSC reform is a genuine foreign policy priority for the Quad. Half of its members (Japan and India) are vying for a permanent seat at the table, and the other half have a history of supporting such changes.
Second, this call comes at an appropriate time. Conflict in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa – plus rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific – have highlighted the inefficiencies of the UNSC and renewed calls for change. By supporting reforms that enhance the Council’s legitimacy, the Quad is reinforcing its commitment to upholding international law, collective security, and the rules-based international order. In the process, it is also further establishing itself as a champion of these values.
Looking Forward
As half of the Quad’s current leadership steps down, the question of next year’s summit remains.
Since 2017, the grouping has struggled to find its footing amongst US-China competition, other established multilateral institutions, and regional tensions. Though premised on shared values, divergent priorities and politics have at times hampered its capabilities.
On the whole, the Wilmington Declaration looks to move past these obstacles. It outlines the regional priorities, aspirations, and goals for the next era of the Quad – whoever its leadership may be. Come next year, time will tell if they have been successful.