NEW DELHI: The Quad on Tuesday announced a raft of new initiatives including maritime surveillance cooperation, port infrastructure in Fiji, a critical minerals framework, and an energy security initiative, as foreign ministers of the four nations met in New Delhi for their first meeting of 2026.External Affairs minister S Jaishankar hosted Australian Foreign minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he described as a “very substantive and productive meeting.”Rubio said the goal has been to turn the Quad from “a place where we discuss the problems of the world” into “a partnership of action.”“On the stage today are countries that collectively represent about one-third of the world’s GDP and nearly 2 billion people. These are strong, vibrant democracies committed to many of the same concepts with regards to economic development,” Rubio said.
Maritime security push
The Quad launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative, which will leverage each country’s surveillance capabilities to enhance information sharing. The group also expanded the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, providing near real-time commercial maritime data to countries throughout the region.India has committed to hosting the next iteration of “Quad at Sea,” bringing together the Coast Guards of the four nations on one ship.“Sixty percent of global maritime trade passes through the Indo-Pacific. It is a vital national interest not just to the four countries here today, but to dozens and dozens of countries around the world,” Rubio said.
Port infrastructure first
Quad partners will work together on a port infrastructure project. The group announced plans to work with Fiji to advance its port infrastructure in response to insufficient capacity in the Pacific Islands.Wong described this as “the strongest ever commitment from the Quad to the Pacific” and a “practical demonstration of our collective ability to deliver high-quality, resilient infrastructure in partnership with the region.”
Critical minerals and energy
The Quad launched a Critical Minerals Framework to coordinate investment in mining, processing and recycling of critical minerals, strengthening supply chains that have come under scrutiny amid global tensions.The group also announced a Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security, with the US Department of Energy set to host a fuel security forum later this year.
‘Region under pressure’
Jaishankar said the ministers focused on issues of particular relevance to the Indo-Pacific, including safe and unimpeded maritime commerce, supply chain resilience, and the availability of energy, fertiliser and critical minerals.“As maritime democracies located at different ends of the Indo-Pacific, the exchange of perspectives was an exercise of considerable value,” he said.Wong noted that strategic circumstances in the region are deteriorating, with acute economic stress and increasing volatility.“We know the consequences for our region of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz — what that means for our energy security, for our economies, and for our people,” she said.
Opposition to coercion
Motegi said the group had aligned its strategic perceptions on regional developments and agreed to “strongly oppose attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion.”He said the Quad is the “propellant” for realising a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, with countries in the region needing to “strengthen their resiliency and capacity to determine their own future.”
Terrorism and North Korea
Jaishankar said the ministers devoted attention to countering terrorism, stressing there must be “zero tolerance for terrorism” and that nations subject to terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves.Motegi said the group reaffirmed its commitment towards complete denuclearisation of North Korea and discussed the abduction issue.
Way forward
Rubio described the Quad as “a linchpin and a cornerstone of US global strategy,” while Jaishankar said the responsibilities of the Quad will grow and the group must prepare for that.The ministers also announced the delivery of undersea cables to all Pacific Island Forum countries and strengthened cooperation against scam centres in Southeast Asia.
