WASHINGTON (Diya TV) – President Biden remains committed to attending the Quad Summit in India this year, even though he is no longer running for the 2024 presidential race, the White House announced.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Communications Advisor, confirmed this at a news conference, although no specific date has been set for the event. “We’re still committed to there being a Quad leader summit this year, but there’s nothing on the calendar right now for it,” Kirby said.

The Quad, an initiative led by Biden, includes Australia, Japan, India, and the United States. Biden convened a virtual Quad leadership summit early in his presidency in 2020, and the member countries have held annual summits on a rotational basis since then. This year, India will host the Quad leadership summit.

Kirby suggested that Biden’s decision not to seek reelection might open up more opportunities on his calendar. “We’re all exploring what those opportunities can look like in terms of advancing his foreign policy agenda and national security opportunities here and around the world,” Kirby said. “But I don’t have anything on the schedule to speak to now, but stay tuned.”

He noted several ongoing global issues that require attention, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, climate change, and the restless Indo-Pacific region. “There’s plenty for the national security team to try to continue to get done,” Kirby added.

Biden’s commitment to the Quad summit underscores the importance of this strategic partnership. The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, aims to strengthen a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, countering challenges posed by China’s growing influence and aggression.

India, this year’s host for the Quad summit, postponed the January summit when Biden declined an invitation to visit New Delhi for the Republic Day parade due to domestic concerns. The new dates for the Quad summit are expected to be announced after the U.S. elections in November.

Last year, Quad leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, and President Biden, met in Hiroshima, Japan. They discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific region, reaffirming their shared democratic values and strategic interests. The leaders emphasized the importance of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes.