By Trevor Hunnicutt and David Brunnstrom WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) - Leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States will announce plans for new security initiatives in the Indian Ocean on Saturday,

President Joe Biden is convening the leaders of Australia, India and Japan for a Quad summit in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, this weekend, aiming to put a final stamp on an alliance he hopes will endure beyond his presidency.

The Quad Summit in Delaware will announce an expansion of joint maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean, enhancing cooperation among the US, Australia, India, and Japan. This move aims to monitor illegal activities and counter China's growing influence in the region.

"A new Quad maritime security initiative would send a very strong signal to China, that its maritime bullying is unacceptable, and that it would be met with coordinated action by

Biden chose Wilmington, where he resides, for a summit of leaders from Australia, India and Japan — the last of his presidency after he dropped out of the 2024 election