Indian Foreign Sec: 'Quad' Will Release Joint Statement

Following the meeting earlier today of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the 'Quad') between the leaders of the US, Japan, India, and Australia, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla confirmed that the group will be releasing a joint statement for the first time ever.

• Shringla also confirmed that an in-person meeting between the four leaders is likely to take place later this year.
• The Quad has existed in some form since the Obama administration, but has not - until now - been used as a significant forum for leaders' meetings. The increasing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region has seen all four countries party to the quad express concerns about Beijing's aims, and as such have sought to revive the Quad.
• As such, the group is likely to meet more frequently and take more united decisions in the months and years ahead. Comes ahead of the UK's expected aim to create a 'D10' group of democracies to expand on the G7 in its role as president of the latter group this year.