Washington/New Delhi: Ahead of the Quad Summit to be held today in Delaware, four prominent members of the US Congress launched the bipartisan House and Senate Quad Caucuses to “send a clear signal about the growing importance of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India working closely together in the Indo-Pacific region”.
US Representative Ami Bera, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, Representative Rob Wittman and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Pete Ricketts —members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee—launched the bipartisan House and Senate Quad Caucuses.
This announcement comes ahead of this weekend’s Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware where President Biden will welcome heads of state from Australia, India, and Japan.
The Quad is committed to supporting the region’s development, stability, and prosperity to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. The leaders’ ambitious efforts include major initiatives on infrastructure, maritime security, public-private partnership, climate, health, critical and emerging technologies, and space, said a press statement.
Representative Bera said: “As the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly important to global security and economic prosperity, it is essential that the United States continues to strengthen relationships with our Quad partners. The launch of the Quad Caucus underscores our shared commitment to fostering peace, stability, and development in the region. By promoting collaboration on key issues like maritime security, infrastructure, and climate, we can ensure a safer and more prosperous future for all.”
Representative Wittman said: “Cooperation between the United States, Japan, India, and Australia is crucial for the future stability of the Indo-Pacific. The Quad’s support for the governance of emerging technologies, countering illegal fishing, and enhanced maritime domain awareness proves that we will build a better future for the region by working together. I am proud to join my colleagues to launch this bicameral, bipartisan Quad Caucus to foster stable collaboration for years to come.”
Senator Duckworth said: “Over the years, the Quad has represented the United States’ steadfast commitment to the current and future prosperity, strength and stability of the Indo-Pacific region—and proof of our ability to come together with allies and partners to uphold our shared principles. In a strong display of bipartisan support for the region, I’m proud to help launch the Senate’s first-ever Quad Caucus alongside co-chair Senator Ricketts ahead of President Biden’s leaders’ summit this weekend. Together, we’re sending a strong message to our allies and partners—and our competitors—that the United States is here for the long haul.”
Senator Ricketts said: “Partnerships like the Quad are our greatest strength in protecting a prosperous, free and open Indo-Pacific against coercion and malign aggression The launch of the bipartisan Senate Quad Caucus should send a clear signal about the growing importance of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India working closely together in the region. We are committed to finding tangible ways to bolster collaboration with our Quad partners.”
