“The Quad ministers meeting in New Delhi brought together officials from India, the United States, Japan and Australia amid growing regional tensions.“
NEW DELHI — Foreign ministers from India, United States, Japan and Australia met in New Delhi on Tuesday in a renewed attempt to restore momentum behind the Quad alliance, a grouping that has struggled with internal friction, delayed summits and questions about its long term purpose.
The meeting brought together U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australia’s Penny Wong and senior Japanese officials for the third major Quad-level diplomatic gathering since September 2024.
The talks unfolded against a widening list of pressures: China’s expanding military presence in Asian waters, supply chain disruptions tied to critical minerals, and instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route that carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil flows.
“We don’t just want the Quad to be a semi-annual meeting of like-minded countries”, Rubio said during his India visit. “We want it to actually be a forum on which we continue to partner on things.”
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Quad Ministers Meeting Focuses on China and Trade
Behind closed doors, diplomats focused heavily on critical mineral security and maritime coordination. China dominates much of the world’s rare earth processing industry, a major concern for Japan, India and the United States as competition grows around semiconductors, electric vehicles and defense technology.
Tokyo has become increasingly vocal after Beijing restricted shipments of some industrial materials following disputes in the East China Sea. Japan also continues to report increased Chinese military activity near the Senkaku Islands.
India has tried to walk a careful line. New Delhi remains part of the Quad while also maintaining ties with Russia and avoiding direct military alignment against Beijing.
Alliance still faces doubts
The Quad was revived in 2017 after years of dormancy, but analysts say the group still lacks the structure of a formal alliance. It has no defence treaty, no permanent headquarters and no joint military command. Last year, a planned leaders’ summit in India reportedly failed to materialize amid tensions tied to Trump’s tariff policies and broader trade disputes.
Trump nevertheless attempted to reassure New Delhi during a U.S. event on Sunday, saying: “India can count on me, 100%.”
Diplomats are now pushing for a leaders-level Quad summit later this year, although officials acknowledged no date has been finalized.
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