India has decided to postpone the Quad Summit, originally planned for January, according to government sources. This move suggests that U.S. President Joe Biden has likely declined an invitation to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade. The invitation to President Biden was initially disclosed by U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the invitation during their meeting at the G-20 summit in Delhi in September.
Australia to work with India to hold Quad summit in 2024: Green
While the specific dates for the Quad summit were not publicly disclosed, diplomatic sources revealed that New Delhi proposed holding the summit on January 27. Both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had expressed willingness to fly in on the evening of January 26 to attend the summit the next day. Officials awaited confirmation from the White House regarding President Biden’s availability. However, it seems unlikely for President Biden to make two trips to Delhi in an election year, especially considering he is running for re-election.
The Quad Summit, involving leaders from India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S., is now scheduled to take place later in 2024. This summit is significant as India is set to host it for the first time. The decision to postpone could be influenced by logistical considerations and the challenges posed by the U.S. President’s potential travel plans during an election year. The Quad nations will continue to coordinate and collaborate, with the rescheduled summit providing an opportunity for high-level discussions on regional and global issues.
