WASHINGTON – The foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States convened in Washington, D.C., for the 10th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Against the backdrop of evolving geopolitical and economic dynamics, the ministers welcomed recent progress. They outlined a comprehensive agenda aimed at enhancing regional stability, fostering economic resilience, and promoting sustainable development.
A key outcome of the meeting was the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, which some may say is an ambitious new platform designed to strengthen economic security through the diversification and fortification of critical mineral supply chains. This flagship initiative will facilitate collaboration on mineral processing, electronic waste recovery, and the development of resilient industrial ecosystems. In parallel, the ministers reiterated the importance of engaging with private sector stakeholders to stimulate quality investment and support inclusive growth across Indo-Pacific economies. These efforts underscore the Quad’s broader commitment to safeguarding global value chains and advancing economic opportunity.
In the domain of maritime and transnational security, the Quad introduced the first Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, a practical demonstration of collective maritime engagement. The initiative, involving joint observer missions aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, seeks to enhance interoperability and improve coordination in addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy, trafficking, and border violations.
Additional maritime efforts include the continued expansion of the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), a key platform for space-based surveillance, training, and regional capacity-building. Legal dialogues and capability assessments, including the forthcoming MAITRI workshop, further reflect the Quad’s commitment to upholding maritime order and sovereignty.
On technological cooperation, the Quad reaffirmed its resolve to shape the development and governance of critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure. The ministers noted ongoing collaboration through the AI-ENGAGE initiative, which leverages AI and robotics to modernize agriculture, and the Quad STEM Fellowship, which continues to cultivate future generations of scientific and engineering leaders across member and partner countries. Connectivity initiatives—such as the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Partnership and Open RAN deployments—underscore the Quad’s strategic focus on digital security, infrastructure resilience, and harmonized regulatory frameworks.
The meeting also highlighted the Quad’s expanding role in humanitarian assistance and regional emergency response. Following the earthquake in central Myanmar in March 2025, Quad members collectively committed over $30 million in relief funding, demonstrating their capacity for rapid and coordinated action. Additionally, India hosted a regional workshop on pandemic preparedness, attended by 15 Indo-Pacific countries, aimed at strengthening the public health architecture and enhancing collective response mechanisms. These initiatives reinforce the Quad’s position as a reliable and values-based partner in advancing regional well-being, resilience, and shared security.
Se Hoon Kim
Se Hoon Kim is the Managing Editor at Global Strat View.
