What the agenda for the first in-person Quad meeting could look like

Earlier this year, in March, four countries - India, Australia, America and Japan - met virtually, under the Quad moniker, an alliance designed to thwart China's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific.

Over six months later, the leaders of these four countries are set to met for the first physical Quad meeting.

Here's what they might discuss in their Washington summit:


Afghanistan
America's messy exit from Afghanistan and the subsequent rise of the Taliban is at the forefront of global discourse, a reality that President Biden will look to change, first with the Quad alliance and later with the AUKUS alliance - with Britain and Australia.


COVID-19
The global pandemic is still ravaging multiple countries across the globe, and so remains on the top of the Quad's list, with the alliance even releasing a statement to that effect, saying, " we will seek to address the global devastation wrought by Covid-19, the threat of climate change, and security challenges facing the region… with renewed purpose."

Vaccination
Of course, dealing with the pandemic means increasing vaccination rates - something the Indo-Pacific region could use a boost with - and the alliance is set to address that. A press release said the group would be "taking shared action necessary to expand safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in 2021, and will work together to strengthen and assist countries in the Indo-Pacific with vaccination."

Technology
The four country group is also working on creating a 'critical and emerging technology working group', which they announced at an earlier meet to look at principles governing technology design, development, and use, a plan that could be further hashed out during the Washington session.

Climate Change
America's return to the Paris Climate Agreement and the fast approaching goal deadlines could be the catalyst for a conversation between the four powers as to the way forward in dealing with global warming and other interlinked problems.