The foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—collectively known as the Quad—convened in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region amid shared concerns over China's growing influence.
India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hosted his counterparts: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. According to India's foreign ministry, the ministers reviewed recent developments in the Indo-Pacific and explored ways to advance collaboration among the four nations.
The discussions also touched on the Iran war and the disruption of energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting the Quad's broader strategic concerns.
The Quad, a key strategic partnership focused on maritime security, supply chains, and regional strategy, has repeatedly accused China of military assertiveness in the South China Sea and aggressive maritime territorial claims. Beijing, however, insists its military posture is defensive and has criticised the Quad as an attempt to contain China's economic growth and influence.
The meeting follows US President Donald Trump's recent visit to China, which was closely watched in New Delhi for any signs of a shift in Washington's approach toward Beijing. Rubio, who arrived in India on Saturday, emphasised that Washington wants the Quad to evolve beyond a dialogue platform and take concrete actions on issues such as maritime security and critical minerals. He also noted that officials are working towards a leaders' summit later this year, though no date has been set. A planned summit in India last year was delayed due to strains in US-India relations, including tariff disagreements.
