India and the US have finally reached a framework for an interim agreement on trade—described as a major step towards a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). With this, India’s relations with the US are expected to improve, the diplomats and strategists of the world’s two-large democracies foresee.
Despite this, the question is being raised whether trust will revisit the two countries so soon, given that under President Donald Trump, bilateral relations have suffered huge damage on all fronts, including political, diplomatic, and strategic fronts?
However, it is sure that once the trade deal is finalised, the next logical step for both countries will be to inject life in the Quad through a long-pending summit-level meeting. A hint to this regard was apparent in External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s social media message which he posted on X after his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to Washington DC to attend a critical mineral ministerial conference on February 2-4.
“Delighted to meet US@SecRubio. A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues. Facets of India-US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and technology. Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests.” Jaishankar said in his post.
The last line of the EAM’s post has clearly signalled that both countries, among other things, want to give serious push to their engagements, including on the Quad. Added to this is the US State Department’s statement, issued after a meeting between Dr Jaishankar and Marco Rubio.
India and the US have finally reached a framework for an interim agreement on trade—described as a major step towards a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). With this, India’s relations with the US are expected to improve, the diplomats and strategists of the world’s two-large democracies foresee
It maintains that the two leaders concluded their meeting by reaffirming their commitment to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad and acknowledged that “a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital in advancing our shared interests.”
Growing Engagements Amongst Quad Members
Last year, Quad foreign ministers met twice: First, soon after swearing-in of the Trump Administration in January, and second, in July. Both these meetings were held in Washington DC. However, a Quad leadership summit remains overdue. The last such summit was held in 2024.
In November 2025, while speaking to reporters at a White House press briefing, Trump had hinted at a possible visit to India in 2026. On February 2, he unilaterally announced reducing tariffs on India from 50% to 18% and claimed-of reaching a deal with Prime Minister Modi over trade.
Five days later, an India-US joint statement issued by the White House said, “The Interim Agreement between the United States and India will represent a historic milestone in our countries’ partnership, demonstrating a common commitment to reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests and concrete outcomes.”
It is sure that once the trade deal is finalised, the next logical step for both countries will be to inject life in the Quad through a long-pending summit-level meeting. A hint to this regard was apparent in External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s social media message
Following this, the next move from the Indian side will be to invite Trump once other aspects of the trade deal are finalised. There is every possibility, that India will take the opportunity to host Quadrilateral leadership summit once Trump’s arrival is confirmed. Agenda, deliverables, and other logistical arrangements will be finalised in consultation with the rest of Quad partners, some experts say.
But then, there are also reservations expressed by experts on the Japanese Prime Minister and the Australian Prime Minister’s visit to India to participate in the Quad summit. Their argument is that it may take place once Trump signs a trade pact with Tokyo and reduces tariffs on imports from Australia.
Like India, Japan too has entered into a framework agreement on trade with the US. It took place on July 22, 2025. However, more than seven months have passed but Japan, which had promised to invest $550 billion in the US, has not yet turned their framework agreement into a final deal.
The next move from the Indian side will be to invite Trump once other aspects of the trade deal are finalised. There is every possibility, that India will take the opportunity to host Quadrilateral leadership summit once Trump’s arrival is confirmed. Agenda, deliverables, and other logistical arrangements will be finalised in consultation with the rest of Quad partners, some experts say
Similarly, Australia, a strong Pacific ally of the US, has been voicing its grievances on 10% tariffs that the Trump administration has slapped on all Australian exports to America.
However, it is also true that all Quad partners have not put their engagements on critical global issues on hold. For instance, India, the US, Japan, and Australia held their third Quad Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) meeting in New Delhi on December 4-5.
Similarly on December 18, Quad countries held an official level meeting in Tokyo where they reiterated their commitment for maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. In advancing the Quad cooperation, the four countries during that meeting also concurred on promoting initiatives that benefit the countries in the region.
Earlier, from December 8 to 12, Quad countries conducted their first Field Training Exercise (FTX) on the sidelines of Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of the Quad’s Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). On December 2-5, to strengthen the Quad’s disaster-response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific, India, the US, Japan, and Australia hosted the fourth annual Quad Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) Tabletop Exercise and Strategic Meetings in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Invariably, the Quad is not in retreat, but in a phase of recalibration, waiting for the right political and economic alignments to once again push it to the forefront of the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture
Overall, it is clear that the Quad has not lost its relevance even as the leadership summit of the informal group has not occurred since 2024. It continues to focus on deliverable outcomes for the Indo-Pacific, in response to the region’s priorities and challenges.
Quad members are giving their full support in strengthening maritime, transnational security, promoting economic security and prosperity, harnessing critical and emerging technologies and cyber security. They are working together to bolster their ability to respond to regional emergencies.
Invariably, the Quad is not in retreat, but in a phase of recalibration, waiting for the right political and economic alignments to once again push it to the forefront of the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture.
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
