“Four great democracies committed to peace in the Indo-Pacific region”, says Australian PM Albanese ahead of Quad summit

The Australian Prime Minister said that the four great democracies – India, Australia, Japan and the United States – are committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Albanese said he looked forward to holding discussions with the group's leaders, including “my friend Prime Minister Modi”.

“The Quad is an important body. It is committed to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. Four great democracies are driven by our shared objectives. So this will be an opportunity to speak directly to leaders from the United States like President Biden, my friend Prime Minister Modi from India and my friend Prime Minister Kishida from Japan,” Albanese told reporters.

“We will have a four-way discussion about security, stability and opportunity. We will discuss how we can provide greater support to developing countries in the region, including through the actions we are taking on climate change and supporting their energy security,” the Australian Prime Minister said.

“We strive for peace, security and stability. As I said in my Shangri-La Dialogue address in Singapore last year, peace and security don't just happen. You have to work for it. You have to work for stability, and that will be the focus of the Quad over the next few days,” Albanese said.

The main focus of the Quad is likely to be on China and its activities in the region. On September 19, National Security Council (NSC) strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said that China will definitely be “at the top of the agenda” at the summit. Kirby stressed that it would be irresponsible if the Quad leaders did not talk about the challenges posed by China in the region.

Responding to this, Albanese said, “We know there is strategic competition in our region, and of course, that is a factor. When we look at how our region is driven by the rise of China, and the relations between countries in our region. But it is not the only focus. Of course, it is a focus on our four countries, the security and stability that democracies can provide, and we want to, with respect to China, my position is very clear. It is that we will cooperate whenever possible, we will disagree where we must, but we will join in our national interest. And this is something that has improved relations with China, it does not mean there are not differences. There are differences. And we talk about them, and we discuss them in appropriate forums, and we discuss them very directly.”

The Quad summit is taking place at a politically sensitive time in the US, where presidential elections are due in November. When asked about a possible change in policy if Donald Trump wins the election, the Australian Prime Minister said that the Quad relationship is based on shared values.

“The election in the United States is, of course, a matter of the people of the United States. I am convinced that our relationship with our friends in the United States is a relationship between nations based on our shared values ​​and it is not just a relationship between individuals – my relationship with President Biden has never been stronger than it is now. This will be the 11th time we have had the opportunity to meet, and I look forward to meeting him tomorrow,” Albanese said.

Albanese further said the US presidential election was also unlikely to impact US-Australia relations.

“This is a relationship between our two great nations that was forged during World War II. Since then, we have been able to rely on our friends in the United States, and they have been able to rely on us. And just a week ago, I was on board a nuclear-powered submarine – a Virginia-class submarine – at the base in Perth that is undergoing maintenance there, including an Australian submariner working on that submarine. And that just shows how close the relationship is, and it will continue to be,” he said.

The Quad brings together four countries – India, Australia, Japan and the United States – that share a commitment to work as a force for global good and support an open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific that is prosperous and resilient. India will host the Quad Leaders Summit in 2025.