Kaine & Ricketts Encourage Quad Dialogue

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio encouraging the Trump Administration to schedule the next Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. In the letter, the senators underscored the importance of the Quad partnership in advancing U.S. national security and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. The senators also stressed the importance of convening a Quad Summit ahead of an expected meeting in April between President Donald Trump and People’s Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping.

“At this pivotal moment of intense strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China, convening a Quad Leaders’ Summit would send a clear signal of unity, resolve, and strategic coherence among leading Indo-Pacific democracies,” wrote the senators. “Convening a Quad summit prior to President Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping in April would be a decisive demonstration of U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific prior to the President’s visit to Beijing. A successful Quad summit beforehand would allow President Trump to engage from a position of greater leverage.”

“All four Quad partners face shared challenges including supply chain vulnerabilities, restrictions on critical minerals, threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and intensifying competition over emerging technologies,” the senators continued. “The Quad is uniquely positioned to address these challenges and advance many of the objectives outlined in President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy building upon successes of previous Administrations, including strengthening allied deterrence, reducing strategic dependencies on adversaries, safeguarding technological leadership, and upholding freedom of navigation.”

“We look forward to working with you to strengthen the Quad at this pivotal moment for U.S. diplomacy and urge you to prioritize organizing a Quad Leaders’ Summit, and ensuing Foreign Minister and working group meetings. Doing so would reinforce American leadership, empower our closest partners, and ensure that future engagement with Beijing is grounded in unity, strength, and strategic foresight,” the senators concluded.

Full text is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to encourage the Trump Administration to prioritize scheduling the next iteration of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. At this pivotal moment of intense strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China, convening a Quad Leaders’ Summit would send a clear signal of unity, resolve, and strategic coherence among leading Indo-Pacific democracies. We stand ready to work with the Trump Administration to bolster this crucial partnership.

Timing and sequencing are critical. Convening a Quad summit prior to President Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping in April would be a decisive demonstration of U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific prior to the President’s visit to Beijing. A successful Quad summit beforehand would allow President Trump to engage from a position of greater leverage.

The Quad partners are well-positioned to act collectively. President Trump’s recent successes advancing American interests in our bilateral relationships with Australia, India, and Japan have set the stage for revitalized collective action through the Quad. Australia and Japan have expanded cooperation on critical technologies and resilient supply chains while increasing defense investments—through reaffirmed AUKUS commitments and deeper extended-deterrence coordination. The Administration’s announcement of a trade deal with India lays the groundwork to significantly deepen strategic and defense cooperation with India and across the Indo-Pacific.

All four Quad partners face shared challenges including supply chain vulnerabilities, restrictions on critical minerals, threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and intensifying competition over emerging technologies. China has subjected Japan in particular to increased diplomatic pressure, military intimidation, and economic coercion that threatens regional stability and international norms. The Quad is uniquely positioned to address these challenges and advance many of the objectives outlined in President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy building upon successes of previous Administrations, including strengthening allied deterrence, reducing strategic dependencies on adversaries, safeguarding technological leadership, and upholding freedom of navigation.

We look forward to working with you to strengthen the Quad at this pivotal moment for U.S. diplomacy and urge you to prioritize organizing a Quad Leaders’ Summit, and ensuing Foreign Minister and working group meetings. Doing so would reinforce American leadership, empower our closest partners, and ensure that future engagement with Beijing is grounded in unity, strength, and strategic foresight. We also welcome a briefing to discuss the Administration’s vision and priorities for the Quad by March 13, 2026.

Sincerely,

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