The foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India (the "Quad," a strategic grouping formed to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific) met in New Delhi this week, agreeing to jointly develop a port in Fiji, deepen critical minerals cooperation, and expand maritime collaboration in the region. The meeting comes amid growing concern about the alliance's momentum, as no leaders' summit has taken place since 2024, with tensions between Washington and New Delhi — over immigration policy, tariffs, India's purchases of Russian oil, and Trump's closer ties with Pakistan — complicating prospects for one. Despite the turbulence, analysts argue that China's continued military buildup, maritime assertiveness, and regional destabilisation leave Quad members with little choice but to maintain the partnership, a view reflected in polling showing that pluralities in all four countries support the Quad eventually becoming a formal military alliance.