The Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, announcing new cooperation initiatives on energy security, critical minerals, maritime awareness and port infrastructure following high-level talks in New Delhi.
Meeting in India for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the group said the region was facing “unprecedented opportunities” but also “great challenges”, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and growing maritime insecurity.
In a joint statement, the ministers stressed that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific depend on upholding international law, sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
They also strongly opposed “destabilising or unilateral actions” that attempt to change the regional status quo through force or coercion, warning such behaviour undermines long-term stability and prosperity.
The ministers discussed maritime tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, expressing concern over militarisation of disputed features, unsafe maritime manoeuvres and interference with navigation and resource development.
They also reiterated support for freedom of navigation and overflight under international law, and called for disputes to be resolved peacefully.
The statement also addressed global security flashpoints, including the Middle East, North Korea and Myanmar, with Quad members reaffirming support for diplomacy, sanctions enforcement and regional stability.
A major focus of the meeting was strengthening economic resilience and supply chain security, particularly in critical minerals and energy.
The Quad announced a new Quad Critical Minerals Framework aimed at strengthening cooperation on mining, processing, recycling and investment to reduce reliance on single-country supply chains.
A separate Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security was also launched to improve energy market stability and resilience across the region.
The group further announced cooperation with Fiji on port infrastructure under the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, designed to improve regional logistics and maritime connectivity.
On technology, the Quad said it would deepen collaboration on AI, communications standards, digital identity and secure networks, while also supporting resilient undersea cable systems across the Indo-Pacific.
The ministers also welcomed expanding cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster response, including logistics coordination and joint exercises to improve readiness for future crises.
The joint statement reiterated concerns over terrorism, cybercrime and transnational criminal networks, including online scam operations in parts of Southeast Asia.
Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong said the Quad meeting delivered “meaningful outcomes” for the region and thanked India for hosting the talks.
She also highlighted progress on new initiatives, including maritime surveillance cooperation, energy security and supply chain resilience.
Wong said Quad partners had agreed to expand maritime and humanitarian cooperation across the Indian Ocean region and deepen coordination on critical minerals supply chains and investment.
She separately noted her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his expected visit to Australia later this year, describing the Australia–India relationship as being at “new heights” under current leadership.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the engagement, highlighting growing strategic trust between the two countries and reaffirming cooperation across defence, trade, technology and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
The Quad statement concluded by reaffirming the partners’ shared commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, and their intention to deepen cooperation through future meetings and practical initiatives.
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