Cementing the Quad: Power, Partnership, and Regional Purpose

As Quad leaders prepare to convene in India this Fall, the Indo-Pacific finds itself at a moment of strategic flux. From the Pacific Islands to South Asia and Southeast Asia, regional actors are increasingly wary about how their security, development, technology, and climate needs and priorities are being addressed within an evolving and uncertain geopolitical landscape. As the Quad navigates growing expectations and each member manages complex bilateral relations with the United States and China, key questions persist: Can the Quad sustain its momentum amid shifting foreign policy headwinds? What will keep the United States committed? And more importantly, how can the Quad evolve into a durable framework for not just the member countries to work together and progress on shared interests but also ensure wider, inclusive regional cooperation?

This panel will not only delve into regional perceptions but also assess the evolving role of the Quad and its future trajectory amid bilateral tensions, U.S. policy shifts, and changing geopolitical dynamics. Speakers include Danny Russel, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Society Policy Institute; Masafumi Ishii, former Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia; Nishank Motwani, Senior Fellow and Director Alliance Strategy, Australian Strategic Policy Institute; and Farwa Aamer, Director for South Asia Initiatives, Asia Society Policy Institute. Emma Chanlett-Avery, Director for Political-Security Affairs, Asia Society Policy Institute, will moderate the conversation. Rorry Daniels, Managing Director, Asia Society Policy Institute, will offer welcoming remarks.