BRICS-QUAD Summit / BRICS is gaining momentum, but what about QUAD? PM's visit will decide the future

BRICS-QUAD Summit: Recent years have seen rapid changes in global geopolitics. India, which is strengthening its friendship with Russia and China on the one hand and working on accelerating BRICS, is also promoting strategic partnerships with the US, Japan and Australia through organizations like the QUAD on the other hand. But amid tensions in Indo-US relations and India's growing closeness with Russia-China, the question arises what will be the future of the Quad? Especially when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going on a visit to Japan and the Quad summit is scheduled to be held in India later this year.

Formation and regeneration of the Quad

The Quad, i.e. the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, was formed in 2004, but it remained largely dormant until 2017. Former US President Donald Trump gave it a revival in his first term, which was later further strengthened by the Joe Biden administration. In 2021, the Quad was elevated to the leaders' level under Biden, making it an important strategic forum in the Indo-Pacific region. The main objective of the Quad is to balance China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific and promote regional stability, security, and economic cooperation.

India's position

India has always attached importance to the Quad, even though its relations with the US have fluctuated. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently said that India sees the Quad as an important forum in the Indo-Pacific that not only promotes regional security but also strengthens cooperation in areas such as critical minerals, technology, and supply chains. Misri also pointed out that India and the US are negotiating on issues such as tariffs and trade, and India is committed to further expanding its cooperation with the Quad countries.

PM Modi's Japan visit

On August 28, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going on an official visit to Japan, where he will attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 29 and 30. This visit is important in many ways. This will be Modi's first bilateral summit with Ishiba and his first solo visit to Japan in nearly seven years. The focus of this visit will be to further deepen India-Japan relations, promote cooperation under the Quad, and strengthen partnerships in strategic areas such as critical minerals.

Importance of Quad for America

For the US, the Quad is an effective mechanism to promote its interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Lisa Curtis, who has been the Senior Director for South and Central Asia in Trump's first term, said that the Quad is important for US national security and regional stability. He warned that if the India-US trade talks fail, it would be a strategic victory for China. Through the Quad, the US not only wants to maintain regional balance but also wants to increase technological and defense cooperation with important partners like India.

India-US Relations: Tensions and Dialogue

There is tension between India and the US over tariffs, trade balance and other issues, but both countries are committed to maintaining and strengthening their strategic relationship. In the recent 2 + 2 ministerial talks, the two countries agreed to deepen defense, security, trade, and technology cooperation. Experts believe that India is an important strategic partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific, while the US is a major source of high technology, investment, and defense cooperation for India.

India's friendship with BRICS and Russia-China

India's growing closeness with Russia and China has raised questions about the future of the Quad. Under BRICS, India, Russia, and China are trying to strengthen their position in the global economic and geopolitical system. India's historical ties with Russia and economic cooperation with China, especially in the field of critical minerals and supply chains, further complicate India's foreign policy. But India's policy of "strategic autonomy" enables it to maintain a balance with various global powers.

Future of Quad

The future of the Quad depends on the direction of India-US relations, the depth of India-Japan cooperation, and the geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. For India, the Quad is a platform that helps it strengthen its position at the regional and global level. On the other hand, India's friendship with Russia and China gives it an opportunity to play a balancing role on the global stage. Experts believe that India is able to balance both the Quad and BRICS under its "multi-alignment" policy.