Foreign ministers of the Quad nations convened in New Delhi on Tuesday for crucial discussions focusing on critical minerals, maritime security, and energy concerns, set against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is hosting Australia's Penny Wong, Japan's Toshimitsu Motegi, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Hyderabad House. The ministers are also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Agenda Items
The war in West Asia and its impact on maritime and energy security will be among the primary issues on the agenda. The four countries are particularly concerned about the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its effect on freedom of navigation through major global chokepoints, including those in the Indo-Pacific region. In alignment with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the ministers will build upon discussions held in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025, where they reaffirmed their commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Quad's New Agenda
The July 2025 joint statement announced a new agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. The ministers had also expressed serious concern about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea, reiterating strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.
Challenges and Opportunities
According to an analysis by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), the Quad is currently experiencing its most turbulent period of diplomatic synergy since the group's resuscitation in 2017. The continued momentum stagnated in 2025 when the group failed to convene a leader-level summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi, which would have been the first hosted by India since 2021. The arrival of Secretary Rubio in India presents a new opportunity to set in motion a critical reset and inject fresh momentum into the group.
Diplomatic Nadir
ORF noted that subsequent events in 2025, including the US imposition of tariffs on Quad partners, the placement of AUKUS under review, and continued adversarial commentary from Washington regarding India's purchase of Russian energy, resulted in a diplomatic nadir among the members of the group. A churn is currently underway in the Indo-Pacific, with Washington's changing foreign policy and security priorities, driven by its shifting posture in the region and its preoccupation with wars in the Middle East, leading to growing uncertainty.
Progress and Priorities
Despite these challenges, the Quad has demonstrated steady progress in several areas, including the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Partnership, the Quad Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network. ORF emphasized that coordinating a successful leader-level summit should remain a key priority for the group. Secretary Rubio's role in ensuring that Washington finally puts its diplomatic weight behind the group will be crucial. The focus of the meeting in New Delhi must remain anchored in efforts to overcome the diplomatic nadir in which the Quad currently finds itself.
