The Quad nations’ foreign ministers convened in New Delhi for a significant meeting aimed at bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions and economic challenges tied to the conflict in West Asia. This marks the first gathering of the Quad foreign ministers in nearly a year, with India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar hosting his counterparts: Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
Central to their discussions is the rejuvenation of the Quad alliance and enhancing collaboration on maritime security, economic resilience, critical minerals, infrastructure development, and disaster response. Prior to the main session, Jaishankar and Motegi held bilateral talks which zeroed in on economic security and the repercussions of the West Asia crisis on energy supplies and trade. Both nations underscored the importance of maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific and safeguarding maritime routes.
Japanese foreign minister Motegi highlighted that global power dynamics are in flux and conflicts are on the rise, suggesting that India and Japan share a critical role in shaping the future international order. Meanwhile, Australia affirmed that the Quad partnership is essential for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing that such cooperation is increasingly vital in a world marked by instability.
A pivotal topic on the agenda is the much-anticipated Quad Leaders’ Summit, which has faced delays. Originally slated for last year in India, the summit was postponed after US President Donald Trump did not confirm his attendance. The last leaders’ summit occurred in the United States in 2024, with the preceding foreign ministers’ meeting taking place in Washington in July 2025.
In recent statements, Jaishankar underscored the commitment of the Quad nations, which he described as “maritime democracies,” to uphold international law, secure trade routes, and maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. This meeting seeks to provide new momentum to these goals amid the shifting global landscape.