Biden and three world leaders reaffirm commitment to Indo-Pacific region

President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to a "free, open" Indo-Pacific region to his fellow "Quad" leaders after the four convened for the first time on Friday.

In a joint Saturday op-ed in the Washington Post authored by Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the four leaders of the intercontinental Quad alliance outlined what they view as the key challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed their commitment to one another.

"We are proud to announce ... bold steps — and eager to begin the work our countries must undertake to achieve them. Ending and recovering from the pandemic, standing up to climate change, and advancing our shared regional vision will not be easy ... but in this dark hour, our partnership offers a spark of hope to light the path ahead," the world leaders wrote, later adding that they recommit themselves, "once again, to an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, secure and prosperous."