Newsletters
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new maritime security and critical minerals cooperation with India, Japan and Australia on Tuesday as the four countries met in New Delhi for Quad talks focused on Indo-Pacific surveillance, port development and regional stability.
The meeting brought together Rubio, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as the Quad.
Rubio said the Quad brings together countries “who share strong values—strong, vibrant democracies” and are committed to similar ideas on economic development and shared interests.
Rubio said the four countries would work together on two maritime initiatives.
One initiative will combine the surveillance capabilities of the Quad countries, while another will provide enhanced real-time information to commercial traffic at sea.
In a first, Wong said the Quad is cooperating on port development in Fiji, a key island country in the South Pacific.
Rubio also said the Quad would expand cooperation on securing critical mineral supply chains.
The move comes as the U.S. looks to build networks with allies in a sector where China has a dominant position in resources needed for high-end technology.
Rubio said the Trump administration wants the Quad to focus more on deliverables than meetings and said cooperation was moving “pretty aggressively.”
Jaishankar told the meeting that global challenges require countries to address issues including supply chain resilience, connectivity chokepoints, manufacturing and resource concentrations, and gaps in critical infrastructure.
“Each one of them offers a new argument for more partnerships, stronger growth and realizing the promise of technologies,” he said.
He said the Indo-Pacific has its own specific concerns.
“This will require enhancing strategic confidence, ensuring maritime security, promoting economic choices and fostering a deeper collaborative ethos,” Jaishankar said.
“And that is best done by promoting trusted and transparent partnerships,” he added.
Jaishankar said officials from the four countries had advanced cooperation over recent months across Quad priorities, including maritime security, critical technologies, economic resilience and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the ministers exchanged views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas and reviewing progress on ongoing initiatives.
Indian officials said energy, maritime security and regional stability were among the areas expected to be discussed.
Wong called for “freedom of choice” for Indo-Pacific nations on security and on “asserting their sovereign interests.”
“We are four sovereign nations and have our own histories and interests, but there is great alignment between our interests,” Wong said.
“We all share a vision for the Indo-Pacific, a region that is free and open,” she added.
The ministers were also expected to discuss recent developments in the Indo-Pacific and other international issues of mutual concern.
The New Delhi meeting came amid the U.S.-Iran war.
The U.S. has pointed to freedom of navigation as it tries to rally allies to counter Iran, which has exerted control over the Strait of Hormuz in response to a U.S.-Israeli war launched on Feb. 28.
Jaishankar said the focus of the talks would be “the Indo-Pacific, which is the specific limit of the Quad.”
India has also differed with other Quad nations on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by refusing to cut its long-standing relationship with Moscow.
Wong said there was much to focus on in Asia because of its “deteriorating strategic environment and acute economic stress.”
Motegi, during a bilateral meeting with India on Monday, said it was important to address an “increasingly severe” global security situation.
“The world is faced with the most significant structural change in the post-World War II era, driven by a shift in the balance of power and the intensification of conflict and confrontation,” Motegi said.
The Quad, a partnership among the U.S., Australia, India and Japan, was formed in 2007.
The Indian government said the grouping brings together four countries “with a commitment to work as a force for global good and to support an open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific that is prosperous and resilient.”
The last Quad leaders’ summit was held in the U.S. in 2024.
Rubio, who arrived in India last week on a four-day visit, said the four countries would “renew” the Quad.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
