Asia isn’t waiting for America to quit its Iran distraction
The Indo-Pacific security order is in flux and Asia is redrawing its security map.
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(From left) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi, India, on May 26.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Last week, when Quad foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, the tangible outcome was a tentative announcement that the group would hold a summit meeting later in 2026.
If that materialises, it will be a big deal. US President Donald Trump’s second term has reinforced doubts about the Quad’s future. Unlike his earlier presidency, Trump has adopted a less directly confrontational approach towards China, even hinting of a G-2 relationship with the world’s other superpower. He has also publicly acknowledged Beijing’s role in sealing an initial ceasefire with Iran.
