The US had urged former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discourage the then Japanese Prime Minister from promoting the Quad alliance, claiming that China and Russia were unhappy with it and that China's collaboration was necessary for the Iran and North Korea nuclear issues. The Quad was initiated in 2006 but was temporarily halted due to Chinese objections, before being revived in 2017. Shyam Saran, former foreign secretary, expressed surprise at the US stance and noted that the US justified its position by highlighting the need for China's support in international disputes. The Quad alliance, aimed at the Indo-Pacific region, is viewed as a counterbalance to China's increasing assertiveness in global politics.