In the highly stage-managed world of leaders’ meetings, it’s often difficult to discern anything meaningful. The politicians smile, shake hands, pose for the cameras and disappear behind closed doors, sometimes without uttering a single word to the journalists who have assembled there in the hope of crumbs.

Later, they may issue a statement or communique in lofty language that affirms a shared commitment to some mutually agreeable cause or promises a renewed focus on certain universal priorities.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands before a meeting at the State Department in Washington.Credit: AP

The Quad foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, Washington time, followed this mould. There were occasional nods to the fact that other countries “may do things differently at times”, in Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s words – but overall, you would think everything between these four nations was business-as-usual.

Except it isn’t. Indeed, there are some pretty major problems.

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