President Biden hosted a significant summit with leaders from Australia, Japan, and India in Wilmington, Delaware, emphasizing the importance of the Indo-Pacific partnership.
This gathering, described as likely the last of its kind during Biden’s presidency, aimed to reaffirm commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific, focusing on various global issues like maritime security, regional conflicts, and health initiatives.
The leaders released the Wilmington Declaration, highlighting their concerns about China’s assertiveness, North Korea’s missile launches, and the need for a comprehensive response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
They also discussed initiatives to enhance maritime cooperation and humanitarian responses in the region.
As Biden prepares to leave office, he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is also stepping down, reflected on their achievements in strengthening ties between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, amidst rising geopolitical tensions.
The summit underscored a commitment to maintaining strong international partnerships regardless of future political changes in the U.S.