The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. It is a key pillar in Australia's foreign policy and complements our bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation, including with partners in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
The Quad is focused on delivering outcomes for the Indo-Pacific, in response to the region's priorities and most pressing challenges. Quad countries are working together to strengthen maritime and transnational security, promote economic security and prosperity, harness critical and emerging technologies, strengthen cyber security, and bolster our ability to respond to regional emergencies.
Australia is delivering on a number of key initiatives under the Quad, including:
- the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre which is supporting infrastructure such as the development and management of undersea cables
- the Quad Infrastructure Fellowship Program through which we are sharing world-class expertise in delivering quality, sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure to practitioners
- the Quad Health Security Partnership which is training public health specialists from across the region to better respond to disease outbreaks
- the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chain Diversification Program which will strengthen and diversify clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region
- and the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which is funding the provision of satellite data to help Pacific island countries enhance maritime surveillance.
Quad partners work closely to ensure our efforts complement wider engagement in the Indo-Pacific, both bilaterally and through regional institutions. Quad partners are all Comprehensive Strategic Partners of ASEAN and supporters of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Quad has consistently reaffirmed ASEAN centrality and leadership in the region.
We respect the leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum and align our work with Pacific priorities, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. We are also further strengthening our cooperation with partners in the Indian Ocean region, including through the Indian Ocean Rim Association, to address the region's most pressing and important challenges.
The Quad's origins date back to our collaboration in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The partnership is known formally as the 'Quad', not the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
Quad Meetings and Processes
Quad partners engage regularly through Leaders, Foreign Ministers, Sherpas, senior officials, and experts. Quad Leaders' Summits and Foreign Ministers' Meetings are held on an annual basis.
Leaders' Summits
On 21 September, 2024, then President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States, welcomed Quad Leaders, Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of India and then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, to Wilmington, Delaware for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit.
Leaders released the 2024 Quad Leaders' Joint Statement , outlining a suite of initiatives in key sectors related to health security, connectivity and infrastructure, and maritime security.
On 20 May 2023, Prime Minister Albanese convened the third in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit with India’s Prime Minister Modi, Japan’s then Prime Minister Kishida, and then US President Biden in Hiroshima, Japan. The Leaders issued a Joint Statement, as well as a Quad Vision Statement – the first of its kind, setting out a shared vision for the region and the future of the Quad.
On 24 May 2022, Japan's then Prime Minister Kishida hosted the second in-person Quad Leaders' Summit with Prime Minister Albanese, India's Prime Minister Modi and then US President Biden. Leaders issued a Joint Statement.
On 4 March 2022, Quad Leaders met virtually to reaffirm their commitment to the Indo-Pacific and to discuss the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Leaders issued a Joint Readout.
On 24 September 2021, then US President Biden hosted the first in-person Quad Leaders' Summit with former Prime Minister Morrison, India's Prime Minister Modi and Japan's then Prime Minister Suga in Washington. The inaugural virtual Leaders' Summit was held on 12 March 2021.
The next Quad Leaders' Summit is due to be held in India in 2025.
For further information, see relevant Joint Statements and Fact Sheets under key publications below.
Foreign Ministers' Meetings
Quad Leaders' Summits are built on the foundation of Quad Foreign Minister engagement. Quad Foreign Ministers exchange views on regional strategic challenges, and deepen habits of cooperation in areas of shared priority focused on the Indo-Pacific.
Quad Foreign Ministers met in Washington on 1 July 2025. Foreign Minister Wong met with US Secretary of State Rubio, India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya. Quad Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to the Quad and issued a Joint Statement and Fact Sheet.
On 21 January 2025, Quad Foreign Ministers met in Washington. The Ministers issued a Joint Statement.
Quad Foreign Ministers have met at least annually since 2019. Quad Foreign Ministers Meetings were held on 29 July 2024 (Tokyo), 22 September 2023 (New York), 3 March 2023 (including a panel event at the Raisina Dialogue) (India), 23 September 2022 (New York), 11 February 2022 (Melbourne), 18 February 2021 (virtual meeting), 6 October 2020 (Tokyo), and 26 September 2019 (New York).
In addition to Foreign Minister-level engagements, Quad senior officials regularly meet to exchange strategic assessments and progress practical cooperation led by Foreign Ministers.
Key publications
July 2025 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – Washington
- July 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Joint Statement
- July 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Fact Sheet
January 2025 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – Washington
January 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Joint Statement
September 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit – Wilmington
- September 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Joint Statement
- September 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Prime Minister Media Release Opening Remarks
- Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative: Prime Minister’s Remarks
- Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative: Media Release
July 2024 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – Tokyo
- July 2024 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement
- Launch of the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre
September 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – New York
September 2023 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement
May 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit – Hiroshima
- May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Joint Statement
- May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Vision Statement
- May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Prime Minister Media Release
- May 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit: Fact Sheet
- Quad Statement of Principles on Clean Energy Supply Chains in the Indo-Pacific
- Quad Open Radio Access Network Security Report
- Quad Principles on Critical and Emerging Technology Standards
- Quad Joint Principles for Secure Software
Media releases and statements
- Quad Concludes Simulation Exercise to Advance Indo-Pacific Logistics Network
- Joint Statement by Quad Partners on Myanmar Earthquake Response
- Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Quad Cooperation
- July 2024 Quad Senior Officials’ Meeting
- March 2023 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Joint Statement
- September 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
- Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Joint Statement
- Quad Leaders’ Summit May 2022: Opening Remarks by PM Albanese
- Quad Leaders' Summit March 2022: Joint Statement
- February 2022 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
- Quad Leaders’ Summit September 2021: Opening Remarks by former PM Morrison
- Quad Leaders' Summit September 2021: Joint Statement
- Quad Leaders’ Summit September 2021: Summit Fact Sheet
- Quad Leaders’ Summit March 2021: Opening Remarks by former PM Morrison
- Quad Leaders’ Summit March 2021: Joint Statement: 'The Spirit of the Quad'
- Quad Leaders’ Summit March 2021: Fact Sheet on Quad Summit Outcomes
- August 2021 Quad Senior Officials' Meeting
- February 2021 Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting