Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jan 14: US President Joe Biden has highlighted the elevation of the Quad alliance as one of the key foreign policy accomplishments of his administration, emphasizing the personal touch of hosting its leaders at his Delaware residence during the last summit.

“We’ve taken the Quad to the next level,” Biden said on Monday, referring to the strategic alliance comprising the US, India, Australia, and Japan. He noted that hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida at his home was a testament to the deep camaraderie among the leaders.

The Quad, initially revived in 2017 during the Trump administration, was elevated to foreign ministerial meetings before being further advanced to leader-level summits by Biden soon after assuming office in 2021. Since then, the group has convened multiple times, both virtually and in person, addressing strategic regional challenges.

In his address at the state department, Biden also underscored his administration’s broader foreign policy achievements, including strengthening alliances like NATO and AUKUS and countering adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran.

Reflecting on the pullout from Afghanistan, Biden described it as a necessary step to end America’s longest war, asserting that his tenure has left the US stronger and better positioned globally.

“America is stronger. Our alliances are stronger. Our adversaries and competitors are weaker,” he affirmed.

The president added that hosting the Quad summit at his residence during the UN general assembly in September was symbolic of the alliance’s deepening bonds. “When the suggestion came to hold it at my home, I said yes—because it shows we’re truly friends,” Biden quipped.