Speaking to CNBC-TV18 during a discussion on the future of the Quad amid growing tensions in West Asia and evolving US-China ties, Chaudhuri said the Trump-Xi engagement did not yield the concessions the White House had expected from Beijing.
“I actually saw the Xi summit — and my company definitely saw the Xi-Trump summit — as a failure. There was not a single deliverable produced from it,” Chaudhuri said.
According to him, Trump had expected China to make concessions on agricultural imports and purchases of American aircraft in exchange for easing restrictions around advanced chips and technology exports. However, Beijing did not commit to any significant agreement during the meeting.
“China said, ‘We don’t need your chips.’ They acknowledged they would buy some Boeing aircraft, but so few that Boeing stock actually fell after the summit,” he said.
The comments come at a time when the Quad foreign ministers — including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio — met in New Delhi to discuss developments in West Asia, maritime security, critical minerals and Indo-Pacific cooperation. The grouping also reiterated concerns over unilateral actions in the East and South China Seas and announced plans to mobilise up to $20 billion for secure critical minerals supply chains aimed at reducing dependence on China.
Chaudhuri argued that the lack of progress in US-China ties could force Washington to strengthen engagement with strategic partners such as India, Japan and Australia through the Quad framework.
“From what I’ve heard in the meetings that have taken place at the Quad foreign ministers’ gathering here, the Americans have indicated that one of the reasons they are taking the Quad and the need to rewarm their relationship with India more seriously is because their China relationship is not working out the way Trump had expected,” he said.
The Eurasia Group executive also said Trump’s personal style of diplomacy has complicated Washington’s engagement with allies and rivals alike.
“Trump tends to over-personalise foreign policy. He had problems with Modi last year, and then he thought he could charm Xi, and I don’t think that’s worked out very well for him,” Chaudhuri said.
He added that while Trump may not naturally favour multilateral institutions, there remains strong support for the Quad within the broader US administration.
“He’s not a multilateralist by nature. He doesn’t like NATO. He doesn’t like organisations in which America binds itself with other countries,” Chaudhuri said. “What we have seen, however, is that within his administration — whether it’s Hegseth, Rubio, and others — there are great enthusiasts for the Quad.”
Former US Assistant Commerce Secretary Raymond Vickery offered a more cautious assessment of the Quad’s future relevance under Trump’s leadership.
“The Quad was really put together, after its initial foray into disaster relief, as a counterweight to China,” Vickery said. “There is a real question, I think, particularly in the minds of the other Quad partners — India, Japan, and Australia — as to just how relevant the Quad is going to be going forward.”
Vickery said Trump still appears more inclined towards bilateral engagement with China rather than strengthening multilateral strategic arrangements.
“The remarks about Trump not being interested in organisations, combined with the lack of commitment from President Trump regarding a Quad leaders’ summit meeting, all indicate that he is still operating in a bilateral, transactional mode vis-à-vis China,” he said.
The debate over the Quad’s future comes amid growing geopolitical uncertainty linked to the Iran-US conflict. Washington recently launched fresh strikes on Iranian missile launch sites and vessels allegedly attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The US described the attacks as defensive operations aimed at protecting American troops.
Trump later claimed Iran’s enriched uranium would either be surrendered to the US or destroyed under international supervision, though Tehran denied the assertion. Iran has also maintained that sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to any future peace arrangement.
Despite concerns around US-China diplomacy, Quad members have continued to deepen cooperation on strategic technologies, semiconductors, critical minerals and supply chain resilience.
Also Read | Quad ministers vow energy security cooperation, plan $20 billion for critical minerals
India and the US recently signed a bilateral framework on critical minerals covering mining and processing cooperation, while the Quad collectively pledged billions of dollars towards building alternative supply chains outside China’s control.
Chaudhuri said the grouping was increasingly becoming a platform for coordinated bilateral and trilateral initiatives rather than a rigid four-country alliance.
“The Quad has no secretariat. It is a very loose coalition and is about coordination, not mandates,” he said.
