The United States, Japan, Australia, and India held a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) foreign ministers meeting on May 26, 2026, in New Delhi, India [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. The meeting focused on regional security in the Indo-Pacific, maritime security, energy supplies, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains, and overall regional stability [2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 7].
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on May 23 after attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, signaling renewed US engagement with the Quad following tensions in past years [1, 4, 7, 8]. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi began a three-day visit to India on May 25 to participate in the meeting [1, 4, 7, 8].
The Quad ministers voiced concern over China's military assertiveness in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait. They condemned Beijing's unilateral and destabilizing actions in these disputed waters [2, 6, 11, 7]. The group also reaffirmed support for diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and stressed the importance of safe and open maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz [6, 9, 11].
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, "The responsibilities of the Quad will grow commensurately and we must prepare for that," emphasizing the expanding role of the group [9]. He underscored the need for partnerships to address supply chain resilience, infrastructure gaps, and the promise of new technologies [10]. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong praised Rubio's efforts, stating, "We recognize the efforts of Secretary Rubio towards a diplomatic resolution to ensure freedom of navigation is restored and crucial energy supply flow." [9]
Rubio highlighted the US commitment to the partnership saying, "The relationship between our two countries is at the cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific...My very first meeting officially as secretary of state was a meeting of the Quad, and we were going to renew that." [12] The group called for enhanced strategic confidence, economic resilience, trusted and secure technologies, and cooperation in humanitarian aid and disaster relief [10].
The Quad was formed in 2007 by the four nations to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region [2, 5, 6, 7]. The last Quad leaders summit took place in 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware, hosted by then-US President Joe Biden [2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. Plans for a 2025 Quad meeting hosted by India were canceled amid previous India-US diplomatic tensions but the group has resumed meetings to rebuild cooperation [2, 3].
