India is planning to host a foreign ministers’ meeting of the Quad alliance after its 2025 rotating presidency ends, as no leaders’ summit has been scheduled. Multiple sources said New Delhi intends to present the meeting as a high-level discussion despite the absence of top leaders, including the U.S. president. The move comes amid growing unease in Indo-Pacific diplomacy, particularly in the context of India-China relations.

Analysts view this as an attempt by India to ease diplomatic discomfort, since organizing a full Quad summit without U.S. President Donald Trump has become difficult. Reports suggest Trump is seeking warmer ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding to the complexity. Washington-based expert Sourabh Gupta criticized the initiative, calling it ineffective and likening it to “putting lipstick on a pig.”

The Quad, comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, was revived in 2017 to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Analysts believe India’s current approach could raise new questions about the alliance’s unity and effectiveness in the future.