New Delhi to host Quad Foreign Ministers on May 26 as Indo-Pacific strategy sharpens

NEW DELHI: India will host the foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) nations next Tuesday, as the grouping seeks to anchor security and development initiatives across the Indo-Pacific.

At the invitation of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in New Delhi to participate in the high-level meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The visit will also serve as a hub for bilateral diplomacy. The visiting ministers from Australia, Japan and the US are scheduled to hold individual one-on-one meetings with Jaishankar and are expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The summit aims to build on the framework established at the last gathering in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2025. Discussions are expected to focus on a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, reaffirming commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation and a rules-based order; evaluating progress on critical technology, climate resilience and infrastructure delivery; and exchanging perspectives on emerging security challenges in the region and wider international developments.

“In keeping with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the ministers will build on discussions held in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2025. They will exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas, review progress on ongoing Quad initiatives, and reflect on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and other international issues of mutual concern,” the MEA statement said.

It added that, during their visit to New Delhi, the foreign ministers of Australia and Japan, and the United States Secretary of State, are also expected to hold bilateral meetings with the External Affairs Minister and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ahead of the meeting, Rubio said Washington is actively engaged in talks with India to broaden energy cooperation, confirming that the strategic partnership will be a focal point of his official visit. He said his itinerary in New Delhi would feature high-level engagements with ministers from the Quad grouping.

“They are a great ally, a great partner. We do a lot of good work with them. And so it is an important trip. I'm glad we're able to do it because I think there'll be a lot for us to talk about,” Rubio said.

The top US diplomat also emphasised the institutional cooperation between the two democracies within the plurilateral architecture. “We'll also meet with Quad there, which is important. I think my first meeting as Secretary of State was with the Quad. I'm glad we are able to do it now in India, and we're going to do one later in the year as well,” he added.

By RSS/ANI