US State Secretary Marco Rubio calls for ‘concrete actions' at Quad summit in Washington

Sky News AU

15 hours ago

Donald Trump's top diplomat has spruiked the Quad as 'a great partnership' but says it needs to become a 'vehicle for action' ahead of his meeting with his Australian counterpart.
The Quad, made up of Australia, India, Japan and the US, is a partnership broadly seen as a check on China's economic and military might – a task the US President has signalled will be the key foreign policy focus of his second administration.
Hosting Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Washington for a second Quad summit within six months, US State Secretary Marco Rubio stressed it was time for countries to do more than talk.
US State Secretary Marco Rubio has called for 'concrete actions' at the Quad summit. Picture: Allison Robbert / AFP
'These are very important strategic partners and allies of the United States, and together we have a lot of shared priorities,' he said in his opening remarks overnight.
'I think there are many global problems but also problems that we face in our respective countries that can be solved by us co-operating together.
'One of the challenges … is turning meetings and gatherings where we talk about ideas and concepts into a vehicle for action, into a vehicle for actually being able to take concrete actions.
'And that's the next step in this great partnership, is to actually begin to see concrete actions and steps being taken in conjunction with one another, in co-ordination with one another, in partnership with one another for the benefit of our respective countries and ultimately of many other countries in the world.'
Senator Wong echoed Mr Rubio's comments, declaring Quad 'an important partnership for the world' and 'for our region'.
'The importance of our partnership is highlighted by the urgency of the strategic challenges that we all face,' she said.
'In his testimony to his confirmation hearings, the Secretary spoke about the future of the 21st century being made in this region, being shaped in this region. And Australia agrees.'
Senator Wong acknowledged that 'unfortunately we meet against the backdrop of conflict and of escalating competition'.
'So it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength and peace for stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and for all our peoples,' she said.
More to come.
Originally published as Trump's top diplomat calls for 'concrete actions' at Quad summit