NEW DELHI, May 26 – The foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. have decided to work together to build a port in Fiji. They also signed agreements about critical minerals and energy security, aiming t...
NEW DELHI, May 26 – The foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. have decided to work together to build a port in Fiji. They also signed agreements about critical minerals and energy security, aiming to reinvigorate their group known as the Quad.
This was the third meeting of the Quad foreign ministers—Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s S. Jaishankar, Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio—since September 2024.
During the meeting, they announced their first joint infrastructure project, which is a port in Fiji.
Rubio stated, “We are going to partner on port infrastructure, especially because of the inadequate port capacity in the Pacific Islands. We are sharing our plans to work with Fiji.”
Last year, the group lost some momentum due to not holding a leaders’ summit, largely because of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding tariffs and other issues.
Rubio remarked, “We are starting to show real achievements. Our commitment to this partnership is strong. It’s a key element of our global strategy in the U.S.”
The ministers also agreed to initiate an Indo-Pacific Energy Security initiative and a framework for critical minerals.
DOUBTS DUE TO LACK OF LEADERS' SUMMIT
The minerals framework aims to enhance economic policies and coordinate investments to strengthen the supply chains for critical minerals, including mining, processing, and recycling, according to Rubio.
This initiative is expected to benefit Japan, especially after China halted shipments of some minerals used in essential industries following a diplomatic fallout.
New Delhi has encouraged a visit from Trump to India, which might coincide with a Quad summit. Some analysts are questioning if the lack of high-level engagement has diminished the Quad’s significance.
The foreign ministers did not discuss the possibility of a summit this year, but Rubio mentioned that they would work toward a meeting later in 2026.
“The lack of a leaders’ summit has raised some doubts, but that doesn’t mean the Quad is becoming less important,” said Premesha Saha, a senior policy fellow at the Asia Society Australia.
“If the Quad can consistently deliver results at the ministerial level, it can remain relevant without frequent high-level meetings.”
The Quad nations share concerns about China’s rising influence, and Rubio has emphasized the necessity of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
CHINA RESPONDS TO QUAD'S MEETINGS
A joint statement from the four countries expressed deep concern over the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea, as well as the militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea.
They condemned attacks on commercial ships in the Middle East and opposed the imposition of tolls, emphasizing the importance of safety and uninterrupted global trade through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
China asserts that it owns nearly the entire South China Sea and has constructed military facilities on contested land. Several Southeast Asian nations also claim parts of the sea, and China and Japan have a separate territorial dispute in the East China Sea.
Beijing has criticized the Quad, labeling it as a Cold War-style alliance aimed at containing its growth.
On Tuesday, China stated that cooperation among countries should promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity and should not target any other nation.
“We do not support the creation of exclusive groups or confrontational blocs. No cooperation should undermine mutual trust and collaboration among regional nations,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, at a press conference.
India also has ongoing territorial disputes with China, although Modi has shown interest in improving relations with Beijing despite tensions with Trump.