Instead, the leaders used veiled statements, as they have on previous occasions, about keeping the region “free and open” and talking about geopolitical “challenges”.
The other shadow hanging over the summit was November’s US presidential election, with the isolationist former president Donald Trump in a tight race against Biden’s political heir Kamala Harris.
Biden insisted that the group would survive whatever the political situation.
“While challenges will come, the world will change because the Quad is here to stay,” Biden told the leaders in his public remarks before journalists were ushered out.
Asked by reporters if the Quad would make it past the Nov 5 election, Biden replied: “Way beyond November. Way beyond November.”
“HERE TO STAY”
India’s Modi made a similar pledge – in a commitment that will be welcomed by Washington, Canberra and Tokyo as they court the historically non-aligned New Delhi.
“Our message is, the Quad is here to stay,” said Modi, who is due to host next year’s Quad summit in India.
Biden, who bowed out of the US presidential election in July after concerns about his age, filled his farewell summit with personal touches.
The four-way summit took place at his former high school in Wilmington and he earlier opened up his home in the city for private, one-on-one talks with each of the leaders.
“I am really pleased that you were able to be in my home and see where I grew up,” he said.
The leaders also announced investment into fighting cervical cancer for Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative – again a deeply person project as his eldest son Beau died of brain cancer.
The media were given no access to the private meetings at Biden’s home.
Biden posted pictures on social media of him with Albanese and then with Kishida in a wood-paneled drawing room in his house, and showing them the view of a lake from a veranda.
The White House said the summit reflected the way Biden prioritized international alliances.
There are growing questions about what would happen if Trump — who has threatened to pull the United States out of groups like NATO while praising the leaders of Russia and North Korea — returns to the Oval Office.
