Quad Foreign Ministers meet LIVE: Quad ramps up Indo-Pacific surveillance, critical mineral cooperation

The Quad grouping on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) expanded cooperation in critical minerals and energy while unveiling new measures to boost maritime surveillance and port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China’s growing military posturing in the region.

Also read | Quad remains ‘vital’, says Japanese Foreign Minister

The new measures were announced following a meeting of the grouping’s foreign ministers in New Delhi. The meeting was chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

In his media statement, Mr. Rubio said the Quad meeting decided to launch an Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative. Mr. Rubio also announced expansion of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative among the Quad nations. He also said the Quad has decided to roll out a new initiative to boost port infrastructure in the Pacific Islands.

(With inputs from PTI)May 26, 2026 13:18

Quad Foreign Ministers urge adheremce to international law amid West Asia tensions

The Quad Foreign Ministers -- belonging to Australia, U.S., India, and Japan -- discussed the situation in the West Asia and reaffirmed “support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and hope for lasting peace in the region.”

“We reiterate the importance of adhering to international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to navigational rights and freedoms, and the safety and uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. We condemn the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and oppose any future measures that are inconsistent with UNCLOS, including imposition of tolls,” a joint statement read. 

• May 26, 2026 13:16

  Quad joint statement focuses on maritime security, critical technologies

  The joint statement, following the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting in Delhi, emphasised the efforts undertaken by the four countries in addressing maritime security challenges.

  “We welcome India’s operationalization of the Indian Ocean Region programme of the Quad Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram. We will work to develop a Common Operational Picture (COP) across the Indo-Pacific by drawing upon the existing IPMDA efforts,” it said. 

  The joint statement also focused critical and emerging technologies, noting that Quad countries will advance work in the coming months on next-generation communications standards; a workshop on digital identity standards; and a Track 1.5 on standards workforce development.

• May 26, 2026 13:03

  China says Quad cooperation should not target third party

  China on Tuesday reiterated its stance ‌on the Australia-India-Japan-U.S. Quad group, ⁠saying cooperation between countries should contribute to regional peace, ‌stability and prosperity, and ‌should not target ‌any ⁠third party.

  “We also ⁠do not support the formation of exclusive cliques or ‌bloc confrontation. No cooperation should undermine mutual trust and cooperation ‌among regional countries,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao ⁠Ning, told a daily press conference.

  - Reuters

• May 26, 2026 13:02

  Replug | 2025, the Quad’s year of interregnum

  The year 2025 brought about unprecedented disruption in global geopolitics. The return of President Donald Trump to the White House has resulted in a significant churn in various strategic theatres across the world. The Indo-Pacific, arguably, has evolved as the most contested terrain marking the escalating competition between China and the United States. Notably, the Quad has remained a crucial facet of Washington’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

  Revisit Harsh V. Pant and Sayantan Haldar’s analysis on how 2025 panned out for the Quad grouping

• May 26, 2026 12:10

  Watch: Rubio speaks after signing of the India-U.S. Critical Minerals Framework

  Speaking after India and United States signed a Critical Minerals Framework, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined that the groundwork was laid for this on at the Critical Minerals Forum that hosted in Washington, D.C. It gained momentum later that month when India signed on to Pax Silica. 

  “We both [India and U.S.] have a strategic and shared interest in the fact that vibrant innovation economies such as ours cannot afford to leave the foundational materials of these industries vulnerable to single source monopolies that could deny us these things, not just in a time of conflict, but as a leverage point contrary to our sovereign national interests,” he added. 

  - ANI

• May 26, 2026 12:03

  Quad reaffirmed commitment towards complete denuclearisation of North Korea: Japan Foreign Minister

  ”We [Quad] discussed the North Korean situation, including nuclear and missile problems and cyber activities, and reaffirmed our commitment towards the complete denuclearisation of North Korea,” said Japan’s Foreign Minister following the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting.

  “At the beginning of the meeting today, I emphasised the importance of our four nations to the Quad in realising Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). The point of the update of FOIP is that the countries of the Indo-Pacific should strengthen their resilience and capacity to determine their own future,” Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi said. 

  - ANI