Vegan says "Quad expansion mention is premature"... Drawing a line on additional ally participation

"No Policy Planned for Quad Expansion"
Future Expansion Possibility Open... "Everyone Welcome"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Steve Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, drew a line on the expansion of participation by other allies such as South Korea in the security consultative body of the four countries?the United States, Japan, Australia, and India?known as the 'Quad.' This stance differs from the previous emphasis on the possibility of expansion. However, considering the closeness with Indo-Pacific regional countries, he stated that understanding of the Quad system will be enhanced and made more systematic and formalized, leaving the possibility of expansion open.

On the 20th (local time), during a phone conference with reporters while on a tour of India and Bangladesh, Deputy Secretary Biegun was asked whether the South Korean government had been invited to join the Quad. He responded, "The Quad is still somewhat an undefined entity in itself, and it is premature to talk about expansion," adding, "There is no planned policy for Quad expansion." Earlier this month, after the first Quad meeting of foreign ministers from the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India held in Tokyo, Japan, the dominant interpretation was that the U.S. would encourage regional allies and partner countries such as South Korea, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Thailand to participate in the Quad.

Deputy Secretary Biegun had previously expressed willingness to expand participation at the U.S.-India Security Forum held on the 12th at the Ananta Center in New Delhi, India. At that event, he said, "We have been overly cautious about other countries joining the Quad due to concerns about China," and added, "It is a serious problem that everyone avoids mentioning China."

His change in position appears to have been influenced by the fact that, at the last Quad meeting, countries other than the U.S. were conscious of their significant economic ties with China and concluded the meeting without issuing a joint statement. This suggests that it is premature to mention immediate Quad expansion.

However, he emphasized that the possibility of future expansion is sufficient. He said, "The Quad is not a binding obligation but a partnership driven by common interests, and any country willing to join is welcome." He further predicted, "Since there are various cooperative bodies among Indo-Pacific countries, as understanding of the Quad's ultimate goals increases and it becomes more systematized, it will naturally be formalized to regional countries."

Earlier, on the 7th, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also expressed the view that "institutionalizing the cooperation of the four countries would allow us to begin building a substantive security framework," and that it would be desirable to expand the cooperation of the four countries to other countries to establish a multilateral security framework in the Indo-Pacific.