Trump-Xi bonhomie and reference to G-2 may impact India and Quad, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The U.S. reduced tariffs on China to 47%, placing India and Brazil at a higher 50%.
• Donald Trump and Xi Jinping discussed a potential U.S.-China "G-2" grouping.
• Trump plans to visit China in April 2026, and host Xi in the U.S. later that year.
• The Quad Summit hosted by India is unlikely to occur in 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The "G-2" concept, suggesting a U.S.-China partnership to address global issues, was previously considered during Barack Obama's presidency but abandoned by 2011 due to rising tensions.
• India favors a multi-polar world order, and a U.S.-China "G-2" could challenge India's stature and the Quad's viability by potentially creating spheres of influence.
• The U.S.-China detente raises concerns about the Quad's agenda for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
• The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson was non-committal on how the U.S.-China talks would affect India.

Key Concepts Involved:

• G-2: A proposed informal grouping of the U.S. and China to jointly address global issues.
• Quad: A strategic dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S.
• Multi-polar world order: A global system where power is distributed among multiple centers.