Quad Unveils New Indo-Pacific Security and Trade Measures
- TPP
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
In a strong show of unity, the Quad Foreign Ministers—representing India, the United States, Australia, and Japan—released a Joint Statement following their recent meeting in Washington, D.C., reaffirming their commitment to regional security, economic resilience, and international law. A major focus of the statement was the condemnation of terrorism, particularly in reference to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which tragically claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others.
The Quad members unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and called for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of the Pahalgam attack to be brought to justice without delay. They urged all United Nations Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), to actively cooperate in counterterrorism efforts.
In addition to security issues, the Quad also announced the launch of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, aimed at strengthening economic security and collective resilience by securing and diversifying critical mineral supply chains across the Indo-Pacific region. Critical minerals are essential raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, crucial for technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and advanced electronics.
Furthering its strategic cooperation, the Quad is preparing to launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai, which will enhance maritime connectivity, infrastructure, and sustainability. In a bid to improve regional disaster and military readiness, they also plan to conduct the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year, aimed at boosting shared airlift capabilities and leveraging collective logistics strengths.
The Joint Statement, signed by Dr. S. Jaishankar, Marco Rubio (U.S. Secretary of State), Penny Wong (Australia), and Takeshi Iwaya (Japan), highlighted the member nations' unwavering support for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The ministers reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo through force or coercion, and voiced serious concern over rising tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
Particularly alarming, they noted, were dangerous and provocative maritime actions, including the use of water cannons, ramming, and blocking vessels, which undermine peace and stability in the region. The Quad emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, along with other lawful uses of the sea and unimpeded commerce, in accordance with international law—especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They called for all maritime disputes to be resolved peacefully and acknowledged the July 12, 2016, Arbitral Tribunal ruling as a crucial milestone and basis for such resolution.
In addressing threats beyond the Indo-Pacific, the Quad also condemned North Korea’s destabilising ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons, which violate multiple UN Security Council Resolutions. The ministers reiterated their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and expressed grave concern over North Korea’s malicious cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft and the deployment of overseas workers to fund its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs.
The statement called on all UN Member States to fully comply with their international obligations, including sanctions that prohibit the transfer or procurement of arms and related materials to or from North Korea.
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