One could be forgiven for thinking the Quad Security Dialogue Foreign Ministers meeting, Melbourne Australia, February 11, 2022, is a Pre-Australian Election Bilateral Meeting.
With considerable fanfare the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting. He is being described as the "most senior Biden Administration official to visit Australia". Thus anointing, with reflected glory, the Australian L/NP Party-in-Power just weeks before the next Australian Election is called.
Australia's Prime Minister "Holy Scomo"Scott Morrison has also not missed an opportunity to be photo opped with the Blinken and the Quads today.
The latest pre-Election "Essential" Survey, for 2-6 February 2022, suggests that on a 2 party preferred ("2pp") basis, the Election will be extremely close. The ruling L/NP is listed as 46%, ALP Opposition 47% and UNDecided (like Pete) 8%.
Returning to the Quad The Australian Financial Review (AFR), unlike many media outlets, has gone further than only reporting Mr Blinken's presence and that of Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. AFR also reports the presence of India’s External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi,
AFR reports Mr Hayashi as saying: “Given the severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region I wish to have a frank discussion on the regional situation as well,” he told a press briefing."..."A Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the stand-off over Ukraine, repeated missile launches by North Korea, attempts to “change the status quo” in the East and China Sea and Myanmar would also dominate the Quad agenda."
Pete Comment
So Quad participants are increasingly admitting their hard power strategic worries. Their banding together in some sort of Quad alliance structure is still a future hope.