Anthony Albanese has described the QUAD meeting as an “important” engagement he’s “hopeful” will continue after doubts over its longevity.
The QUAD — Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — is an international engagement made up of India, Japan, Australia, and the United States.
However, it has been under a cloud since US President Donald Trump returned to office and tensions boiled between America and India earlier this year.
Asked while attending the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, the PM backed calls from Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for it to continue.
“The QUAD is important for us to engage – Australia, the US, Japan and India,” the PM said.
“I’m hopeful that there will be a meeting in the first quarter, I would hope, of next year. Prime Minister Modi is due to host the QUAD meeting.”
The PM added that he welcomed US President Donald Trump meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Korea after tensions between the two superpowers.
“This is a busy summit season. President Trump has a busy period. He is travelling to Japan but also having the meeting in Korea with President Xi. We welcome the fact that the leaders of the two largest economies in the world are having that direct engagement,” the PM said.