Not dying yet, the Quad even with Trump has a vital role to play
The Quad, comprising the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, faces challenges in maintaining its relevance amid changing geopolitical dynamics. Despite criticisms of drifting towards irrelevance, the structural threats posed by China remain a significant factor for the Quad's continued importance. Tensions between the US and India, particularly under President Trump's second term, have complicated the Quad's objectives and unity.
- ▪The Quad nations have not held a summit since 2024, raising concerns about its relevance.
- ▪China's military buildup and aggressive policies continue to influence the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific.
- ▪US-India relations have deteriorated due to Trump's immigration policies and tariffs, affecting Quad cohesion.
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Analysts have tried to make sense of US President Donald Trump’s second term with countless, sometimes contradictory, labels. He’s isolationist and transactional. He’s a populist. Or, more recently, a neoconservative. One way to make sense of both him and the broader state of geopolitics at the moment is to understand the difference between structure and agency. Trump has undoubtedly exercised his agency in expansive ways since beginning his second term. Yet, at the same time, he has been constrained by structural limitations. The Supreme Court’s ruling against his Liberation Day tariffs is one example. Another is Congress’s release of the Epstein files.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Asia Times.
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