Washington, Feb. 14 — Two senior US senators urged the Trump Administration on Saturday to convene a Quad Leaders’ Summit ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected April meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying a summit would strengthen Washington’s leverage in talks with Beijing. Senators Tim Kaine (D‑Va.) and Pete Ricketts (R‑Neb.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio urging the administration to prioritise the next iteration of the Quad.
In their letter, the senators argued that bringing Quad leaders together before the bilateral meeting with China would demonstrate unity among democracies in the Indo‑Pacific and bolster strategic coherence. The appeal underscores bipartisan pressure in Congress for a coordinated approach to rising competition with the People’s Republic of China.
It is India’s turn to host the Quad summit; the gathering was originally scheduled for 2025 in India but, the letter notes, the four countries have since signalled their commitment to attend and the summit is now expected to be held this year. Kaine and Ricketts framed a leaders’ meeting as timely given intensifying strategic rivalry in the region.
“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,” the senators wrote. (IANS)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/02/15/us-senators-ask-for-quad-summit-before-trump-xi-meet-in-april/
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Publish Date: 2026-02-15 05:28:00
