The official noted that the Quad met at foreign minister level under the previous administration of Donald Trump, who is running against Vice President Kamala Harris in November, andenjoyed bipartisan support, as reflected by the formation of a congressional Quad Caucus ahead of the summit.

The president has often said that “all politics is personal,” and on Saturday he opened his home in Wilmington to the leaders of Australia, India and Japan.

President Joe Biden on Saturday is hosting a fourth Quad Leaders Summit with Japanese, Australian and Indian leaders to discuss maritime security and announce a "cancer moonshot" initiative.