US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is meeting with his counterparts from Australia, India, and Japan on Tuesday (July 1) to strengthen efforts to counter China's influence, even as tensions over trade and other bilateral disputes strain the relationships. The four nations, known collectively as the Quad, share concerns about China’s rising power. However, President Donald Trump’s aggressive global tariff policies have impacted all Quad members, adding stress to their ties. Other issues are also contributing to the strain.

Japan, a key US ally, recently postponed an annual security meeting with US officials, reportedly due to US pressure for increased Japanese defense spending. Australia has shown concern over a Pentagon review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact. India, meanwhile, has pushed back on Trump’s claims about defusing tensions with Pakistan following a deadly incident in Kashmir. Rubio held his first Quad meeting on January 21, highlighting the importance of the Indo-Pacific region. With Trump currently focused on the Israel-Iran conflict, the upcoming meeting is seen as a chance to renew attention on Asia.

Following the joint session, Rubio is scheduled to meet separately with Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya, India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Australia’s Penny Wong. The US State Department emphasized the meeting will reaffirm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and focus on sovereignty, maritime security, and supply chain resilience. Jaishankar acknowledged challenges in US-India ties but stressed the importance of managing differences constructively. He added that the Quad is expected to cover topics like maritime security, tech cooperation, pandemic response, and education.

Regular Quad meetings are planned in the lead-up to a leaders’ summit in India later this year. However, experts suggest that individual bilateral issues—such as trade disputes, AUKUS concerns, and US-Japan defense talks—could overshadow the broader goals. Still, analysts believe that despite current friction, long-term strategic cooperation among Quad members remains intact.