When Prime Minister Narendra Modi sits down on Friday with President Joe Biden and Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga of Japan and Scott Morrison of Australia for their in-person summit -- the first with Biden -- they will face a world with a new set of complexities -- but also a higher level of intent by the US to involve itself in the region.

The chaotic US withdrawal from Afghan has changed the dynamics in the region giving China an edge because of its adoption of the Taliban while raising doubts for allies about their reliance on the US.

Former British Prime Minister Teresa May asked in Parliament, "What does it say about NATO, if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision by the US?"

Th EU also is stepping up its involvement in the Indo-Pacific, but independent of the US. But Biden has shifted his priorities to the Indo-Pacific where a direct confrontation with China is building up and, in fact, he cited that as a rationale for pulling out of Afghanistan.

He is continuing on the path to expanding the role of the Quad beyond just security matters, a goal the leaders set when they held a virtual summit in March.

Giving a reassurance about the commitment to the group, he said at the UN on Tuesday, "We elevated the Quad partnership among Australia, India, Japan and the United States to take on challenges ranging from health security to climate to emerging technologies, engaging with regional institutions." In another indication of the commitment, Australia, the United Kingdom and the US announced a security pact, AUKUS, that could impact the Indo-Pacific region.