Australia: The Sydney Quad meeting, originally scheduled to take place, has been cancelled as a result of US President Mr. Joe Biden’s withdrawal from his planned Australian visit. Mr. Anthony Albanese, Australian politician and leader of the Labor Party, has confirmed the cancellation in light of the US President’s need to address pressing domestic matters.

Mr. Albanese expressed optimism in the early hours of 17th May 2023 regarding the Sydney Quad meeting’s potential continuation, though with a high-ranking US representative in place of Mr. Biden. However, just hours later, Mr. Albanese confirmed the disappointing news that the event was officially cancelled.

The Quad nations are now anticipated to hold a sideline meeting during the upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima over the weekend. Despite the cancellation of the Sydney Quad meeting, all four leaders are set to participate, paving the way for crucial discussions among them.

Although a formal meeting for the Japan summit has yet to be confirmed, Mr. Albanese emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating that it was “appropriate that we talk.” While the specifics of the meeting are still being worked out, the sentiment of engaging in discussions among the Quad nations remains strong.

The highly expected visit of Mr. Biden to Australia, which also included a historic stop in Papua New Guinea, was confirmed in recent weeks. As an alternative to the cancelled visit, Mr. Albanese is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Mr. Biden in Japan. Additionally, Mr. Albanese has received an invitation for a state visit to the United States later this year. The rescheduling of US President’s trip to Australia remains uncertain, and the new dates are yet to be determined.

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