At Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meet, Jaishankar Sends Strong Message on Terrorism

The foreign ministers of the Quad countries — India, the United States, Japan, and Australia — met in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss major global and regional challenges, including terrorism, energy security, maritime cooperation, and supply chain stability. The meeting was chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and attended by Marco Rubio, Toshimitsu Motegi, and Penny Wong. During the discussions, Jaishankar strongly raised the issue of terrorism and reiterated India’s long-standing zero tolerance policy against terror activities. He stressed that global cooperation is necessary to tackle security threats and maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The ministers also discussed the growing impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, especially on global oil supply chains and maritime trade routes. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement among Quad nations to strengthen maritime surveillance and information sharing across the Indo-Pacific. The countries decided to improve coordination to monitor illegal activities such as smuggling, illegal fishing, and security threats in regional waters. The Quad also plans to establish expert teams for port infrastructure projects and launch a new “Ports of the Future” initiative in Fiji to improve regional connectivity. The meeting also focused heavily on critical minerals and energy security. The Quad nations agreed to launch a common framework for critical minerals, aimed at strengthening mining, processing, recycling, and supply chains. India and the United States additionally signed a separate bilateral agreement to secure rare earth and critical mineral supplies, an important step for future technology and manufacturing sectors. Australia highlighted concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that tensions involving Iran could disrupt global oil and energy supplies. Penny Wong emphasized that international sea routes must remain open and free from restrictions to ensure uninterrupted trade and energy movement. Apart from security and trade, the Quad leaders also discussed cyber security, artificial intelligence, and regional energy cooperation. New initiatives such as the Fuel Security Forum and emergency energy management exercises were announced to improve preparedness against future disruptions. The meeting reflected the Quad’s growing role in addressing strategic, economic, and security challenges across the Indo-Pacific while strengthening cooperation among the four member nations.