Japan, Australia To Push Quad Under Trump’s Presidency

The foreign ministers of Japan and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to the Quad alliance with the U.S. and India to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific, Kyodo News reported.

There is an increasingly severe security environment in the region. I Photo: U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Australian counterpart Penny Wong met in Washington ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Iwaya stressed the heightened importance of Japan and Australia in leading efforts to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing close cooperation with the U.S. and other partners.

The ministers acknowledged the increasingly severe security environment in the region and pledged to enhance "multilayered" collaboration with like-minded countries. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the Quad’s commitment to regional stability remains a priority.

A meeting of top diplomats from the four Quad nations is planned following Senate confirmation of Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, according to officials involved in the planning, as reported by Mainichi Japan.