The Quad foreign ministers recently convened in New Delhi to bolster collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, amid escalating geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties exacerbated by the West Asia conflict. This crucial gathering marks the first meeting of this kind in nearly a year, bringing together India’s external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, with Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and US secretary of state Marco Rubio. Their discussions aim to revitalize the Quad alliance, focusing on enhancing maritime security, economic resilience, critical minerals, infrastructure development, and disaster response.
Prior to the main session, bilateral talks between Jaishankar and Motegi addressed economic security and the West Asia crisis’s impact on energy supplies and trade. Both nations underscored the necessity of maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific and ensuring the security of maritime routes. Motegi emphasized that global power dynamics and increasing conflicts are prompting significant structural changes worldwide. He highlighted the shared responsibility of India and Japan in shaping the future international order.
Australia echoed similar sentiments, calling the Quad a crucial partnership for maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. According to Canberra, the collaboration within this alliance has grown increasingly vital in an increasingly unstable global landscape. The long-delayed Quad Leaders’ Summit is a key topic expected to surface during the discussions. Originally slated for the previous year in India, the summit was postponed due to the lack of confirmation from then-US President Donald Trump.
The most recent Quad Leaders’ Summit took place in the United States in 2024, with the preceding foreign ministers’ meeting held in Washington in July 2025. Jaishankar recently highlighted the commitment of the Quad nations, which he referred to as “maritime democracies,” to uphold international law, ensure secure trade routes, and maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. As these discussions progress, the Quad seeks to navigate the complexities of an evolving global environment, with a focus on fostering regional stability and cooperation.