11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States met in New Delhi on 26 May 2026 for the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, maritime security, resilient supply chains, and strategic coordination among the four partner nations.

Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC): The Quad countries launched the first-ever Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security and domain awareness across the Indo-Pacific region. 

• The initiative will leverage the maritime surveillance capabilities of Quad nations.
• It seeks to improve information sharing and maritime domain awareness.
• Initial focus will be on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Cooperation will include subject matter expert exchanges and tabletop exercises.
• The initiative expands the ongoing work under the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA).

India to Host Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission: India will host the next edition of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission. Objectives:

• Strengthen interoperability among Quad navies.
• Promote operational coordination and knowledge-sharing.
• Enhance collective capacity to address unlawful maritime activities across the Indo-Pacific region.

Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework: The Quad partners also announced a new Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework. Aim of the Framework: 

• To strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
• Coordinate investment and economic policy tools among Quad nations.
• Promote cooperation in:
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Recycling of critical minerals

The initiative is aimed at reducing vulnerabilities in global supply chains and ensuring strategic resilience amid rising geopolitical competition.

Evolution of the Quad

Origins after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, India, Japan, Australia, and the United States informally coordinated disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations. This cooperation laid the foundation for the Quad framework.

Formalisation in 2007: In 2007, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe provided political direction to the grouping through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).

Revival in 2017: The Quad was revived in 2017 in response to growing strategic concerns and the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region. Since then, the grouping has broadened its agenda beyond security to include:

• Maritime cooperation
• Supply chain resilience
• Emerging technologies
• Infrastructure
• Climate change
• Critical minerals

Structure of the Quad: The Quad is not a formal multilateral organisation. Unlike institutions such as the European Union or the United Nations, the Quad:

• Has no permanent secretariat
• Does not possess a formal decision-making body
• Functions through consultations, ministerial meetings, summits, and practical cooperation initiatives

Malabar Naval Exercise and Strategic Significance: In 2020, Australia joined the India-US-Japan Malabar naval exercise, marking:

• The first official military grouping of the Quad countries after the revival of the Quad in 2017
• The first joint military exercise involving all four nations in over a decade.

Sources: MEA & IE